A murder investigation is underway after a man was found dead in a pool of blood at the Burning Man art and music festival in the Nevada desert.
The festival, held 110 miles north of Reno, sees up to 70,000 people travel into the middle of the desert to dance, listen to music and see art displays.
The man’s body was discovered in the Black Rock Desert around 9.15 pm on Saturday, right as the famous festival ‘Man’ effigy was engulfed in flames.
Police are working to identify who the murder victim is, but said he was found ‘obviously deceased’ at the campsite.
A heavy police presence will remain at the site until further notice, the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office said.
Sheriff Jerry Allen added: ‘There is no further information available at this time, but it will be released as appropriate to provide for communication, while still preserving the integrity of the complicated investigation of a crime in a city which will be gone by the middle of the week.’
”Burning Man is cooperating with law enforcement. If you are in Black Rock City, do not interfere with law enforcement activity,’ the festival said in a statement.
Metro has contacted Burning Man for further information..
The Burning Man festival, which has been hit by extreme weather in recent years, attracts tens of thousands of people each year.
It has drawn criticism in recent years, given its large size and rural location, as well as the difficulty in policing and providing medical assistance.
This year, a woman gave birth to a baby girl while attending the festival for the first time with her husband.
Kayla Thompson, 37, and her husband, Kasey Thompson, 39, welcomed baby Aurora, weighing three pounds and nine ounces – but she didn’t know she was pregnant.
This year’s festival has also seen intense storms, including one dust storm which destroyed the ‘Orgy Dome’.
The huge tent offered dozens of mattresses and air conditioning for couples and groups to get it on in front of each other.
A reported 5,000 visitors queued to get inside last year, but not this year – it was completely destroyed.
The event advertises itself as an opportunity for free expression and communal living in a largely unregulated environment.
Although there is a reputation for drug use and nudity, dozens of children go there, too.
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