On Monday, officials announced an investigation into the death of a woman during the Burning Man festival, which takes place annually in northern Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. The woman was found unresponsive on the first day of the event, Sunday. Emergency personnel from the Burning Man Project attempted life-saving measures but were unable to revive her. Pershing County Sheriff Jerry Allen stated that the investigation will continue until the cause and manner of death are determined, with updates expected after an autopsy. The woman’s identity and age have not been disclosed pending notification of her relatives.
Burning Man organizers expressed their condolences in a statement, saying, “Our thoughts and condolences go out to the family and friends affected by this loss. We are cooperating fully with local authorities as they investigate. Out of respect for the privacy of the grieving family, we will not be providing further details at this time.”
The festival, which combines wilderness camping with a weeklong celebration of art, began on Sunday after a 12-hour closure due to rain and muddy conditions. Approximately 20,000 people were already present before the gates opened for all ticket holders. This year, organizers anticipate attendance of over 70,000, with the event scheduled to run until September 2.
Since the festival relocated from Baker Beach in San Francisco to the Black Rock Desert in 1990, there have been about half a dozen reported deaths. Last year’s festival saw the death of 32-year-old Leon Reece from Truckee, California, who was suspected of having died from drug intoxication after being found unresponsive on site.