Epidemiologist weighs in on ‘complete disaster’ waiting to happen at Burning Man

Images of punters making the most of the dire Burning Man situation have all given us a giggle. But one doctor has warned it will get dangerous, fast.

Images of punters making the most of the dire Burning Man situation have offered us a giggle. But one doctor has warned it will get worse, fast.

Thousands of cashed up Americans, including a few celebrity A-listers, trapped wallowing in the mud at Burning Man has generated a buzz around the world.

Images of “Burners” making the most of the dire situation have inundated social media over the past few days. But with 35,000 people without their own toilet, the charade is in danger of getting worse fast.

One epidemiologist says the situation could turn even uglier if the revellers aren’t extradited from the festival ground quickly.

“This worries me the most. Food and water can be air dropped worst case, but lack of working port-a-potty toilets at Burning Man due to the flooding could spell complete disaster if people can’t evacuate and toilets can’t be fixed,” Eric Feigl-Ding posted on Twitter.

“Granted some have RV’s with their own toilets, but half of the 70,000 people stuck there do not. If sewage builds up, and more rain arrives to wash the raw sewage through the 70k-person makeshift city, then there could be an infectious disease disaster in a week.

“Thus, more rain Sunday means this worst-case scenario could be a reality if we don’t act fast to airlift toilets into BRC or fix the port-a-potty crisis, ASAP.”

Attendees at the festival had earlier been told to “hunker down” amid dangerous weather conditions.

⚠️LACK OF WORKING TOILETS AT #BurningMan—This worries me the most. Food & water can be air dropped worst case, but lack of working port-a-potty toilets at #BurningMan2023 due to the flooding could spell complete disaster if people can’t evacuate / toilets 🚽 can’t be fixed.… pic.twitter.com/hwfmzP2oxm

— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) September 3, 2023

Revellers were helplessly trapped in the Black Rock Desert after the popular annual festival became a “muddy hellhole” due to flooding.

Two punters who were able to get out of the quagmire explained what it was like to be trapped amongst a small city of people.

“The toilet situation wasn‘t they were not able to change them,” one reveller told The Project on Monday night.

“And food and water in our camp was starting to go rogue. When there was talk about it might be Saturday by the time we got out of there. So we thought it was time to try and make a move.”

The punter said despite the dire situation, people were generally showing goodwill.

“People started looking after each other. It was getting tough but people were looking after each other and you did see some good in people,” he said.

People had been warned that there is “no way in or out” of the grounds, with organisers telling attendees to “hunker down” and “conserve food and water”.

Images of ‘Burners’ making the most of the dire situation have inundated social media over the past few days.

About 150mm of rain is believed to have fallen on Friday at the festival site, located about 177 kilometres north of Reno, the local National Weather Service said.

Another 80mm of rain was expected late Saturday into Sunday.

Many attendees appeared to remain in good spirits, playing beer pong in the muddy streets or splashing in the standing water, the Reno Gazette Journal reported.

Techno music was still echoing around the encampment, while spontaneous dance parties are still breaking out.

“The Gate and airport in and out of Black Rock City remain closed. Ingress and egress are halted until further notice,” the festival’s traffic account tweeted on Saturday.

The famous Burning Man site in Nevada is a flooded mess. Picture: Supplied

“No driving is permitted except emergency vehicles. If you are in BRC, conserve food, water, and fuel, and shelter in a warm, safe space.”

The festival is one of America’s most well known cultural events, and is held every summer in a makeshift city that is temporarily set up for the festival.

It is best known for the concluding event, in which a large wooden symbol of a man is set on fire.

There is currently no estimated time for reopening, with thousands of attendees stranded as the gate and airport into Black Rock City remain closed.

Footage on social media shows attendees struggling to walk on muddy paths.

Organisers have said “no driving is permitted until the surface dries up, with the exception of emergency services”.

One punter said despite the dire situation, people were generally showing goodwill.