Inside Burning Man 2023 Disaster Including Flooding, Lack of Resources + Thousands Stranded in Black Rock City

The iconic Burning Man festival held annually in the Nevada desert has faced unprecedented challenges for its 2023 edition. 

For the entirety of last week (the festival ran from August 27 – September 4), thousands of attendees found themselves in dire circumstances as a heavy rainstorm transformed the Black Rock Desert into a muddy, apocalypse-like war zone. Festival organizers had to take drastic measures, including halting vehicle travel and urging attendees to shelter in place while conserving essential resources.

The heavy rains began on Friday evening, saturating the area and turning once-dry desert sand into thick clay. Campsites were engulfed in ankle-deep mud, making it virtually impossible to move around without creative solutions like wearing trash bags as clothing and Ziploc bags strapped to shoes. However, it’s not surprising that many Burners decided to face the elements totally barefoot. 

With the festival gates and airport into Black Rock City closed, access in and out of the event became restricted to emergency vehicles only. This left thousands of festival-goers stranded, their plans disrupted by the dangerous desert weather.

Reports indicate that more than 70,000 people attended Burning Man 2023 for the week-long event, but it remains unclear how many were affected by the weather-related crisis. To put things in perspective, the area received about 0.8 inches of rain within a day, equivalent to two to three months’ worth of rainfall for the entire region during this time of year.

As the rain persisted, festival-goers were urged to shelter in place and conserve their limited food, water, and fuel supplies. The situation was exacerbated by the forecast, which predicted more showers and thunderstorms throughout the weekend. However, hopes were high for improving weather conditions on Labor Day, the day that Burning Man 2023 was scheduled to conclude.

The Bureau of Land Management issued advisories instructing people not to travel to Burning Man’s 2023 event due to the road closures and adverse weather conditions. Among the artists and attendees who did make it inside, many “escaped” the brutal conditions and took it to the internet to tell their stories. Diplo tweeted, “Just walked 5 miles in the mud out of burning man with chris rock and a fan picked us up.”

This year’s Burning Man faced obstacles even before the heavy rain hit. Tropical storm Hilary in August brought high winds, rainfall, and flooding to the desert, impacting preparations for the event. Despite the challenging circumstances, the Burning Man community displayed resilience. Attendees checked on one another, shared resources, and helped those in need. While the situation was far from ideal, the sense of community remained strong.

Burning Man 2023 became a test of endurance and resourcefulness for attendees as heavy rains led to flooding and logistical challenges. While the weather disrupted plans, the spirit of Burning Man endured as many prayed to the “Playa gods” for good fortune.