A woman died at the opening day of the Burning Man event in Nevada.
Festival officials said “emergency services personnel responded to a report of an unresponsive individual” Sunday, but life-saving measures were unsuccessful.
Pershing County police identified the victim as a female participant. Her name is being withheld pending notification to her family. It’s not yet clear how she died.
“This death will remain under investigation until a Cause and Manner can be determined, which will be updated at the conclusion of an autopsy,” according to law enforcement.
First responders discovered the victim around 11:30 a.m. in Black Rock City’s Black Rock Desert.
“It is with heavy hearts that Burning Man Project confirms the death of a participant in Black Rock City in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert,” organizers posted on Burning Man’s homepage. “Our thoughts and condolences go out to the family and friends affected by this loss.”
A 32-year-old California man died at last year’s gathering due to cocaine, ethanol and ecstasy consumption, according to reports.
Burning Man attracts more than 60,000 people annually for art and music oriented activities. Organizers insist it “is not a festival,” but rather, a “community and global cultural movement.”
The event runs through Sept. 2.
