Burning Man News: 2nd Attendee Dies at Nevada Festival, 60-Year-Old Found Dead in Camp

A second attendee has died at this year’s Burning Man festival in Nevada, with 60-year-old Craigh Mann found dead in his camp on Saturday afternoon, September 5, according to the Burning Man Project. Mann was found by his campmates at Black Rock City, and organizers have not disclosed a cause of death. The latest death comes days after another attendee in his mid-50s died following a medical emergency at the festival.

The deaths occurred as the nine-day festival dealt with difficult weather conditions in the Black Rock Desert. Heavy rain temporarily closed the event’s main entrance and exit, prompting organisers to advise people traveling to the festival to delay their journeys and those already at Black Rock City to avoid driving. Amazon Cargo Plane Crash Videos: 5 Killed After Plane Crashes While Landing at Miami Airport.

Second Death Reported At Black Rock City

The Burning Man Project confirmed that Mann was found dead in his camp shortly after 3 p.m. on Saturday. No further information about his death or a possible cause has been released. “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the participant’s family, friends, campmates, and all those affected by this loss,” the festival said in a statement. The death is the second reported at this year’s event. Authorities have not indicated that the two deaths are connected.

Earlier Death Followed Medical Emergency

On Thursday, a man in his mid-50s died after experiencing a medical emergency at Black Rock City, according to the Burning Man Project. “It is with heavy hearts that Burning Man Project confirms a Black Rock City participant in his mid-50s experienced a medical emergency, immediately received lifesaving measures, and was transported to the onsite center for emergency care where he was pronounced deceased,” Burning Man also said in the statement. Gloria Steinem, US Feminist Icon and Ms Magazine Co-Founder, Dies at 92.

The man’s identity has not been released while officials work to notify his family. The Pershing County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office said external foul play did not appear to be a factor in his death, while the cause remains under examination.

Rain Disrupts Festival Travel

The deaths came as severe weather caused operational problems at the desert festival. Rain turned parts of the playa into mud and led organizers to temporarily close access points. On Friday, people planning to travel to Black Rock City were advised to delay their arrival, while those already at the festival were told to avoid driving. The difficult conditions added another challenge for an event held in the remote Black Rock Desert, about 120 miles north of Reno.

Burning Man is built around principles including self-expression, participation and self-reliance. The event began as a small gathering in 1986 and has grown into a major annual gathering in Nevada. This year’s festival began on August 30 and is scheduled to conclude on Labor Day, September 7. The event draws tens of thousands of participants to the temporary Black Rock City. Recent reports have put attendance at about 70,000. Attendance reached nearly 80,000 in 2019 but has declined in the years since.

Previous Death Remains Under Investigation

The 2026 deaths follow the death of 37-year-old Russian national Vadim Kruglov at last year’s festival. Kruglov was found dead in what authorities investigated as a homicide, an incident that marked the first homicide in Burning Man’s history.

The investigation into Kruglov’s death remains ongoing. For this year’s festival, authorities and organizers have not established a connection between the two deaths. Further information on Mann’s death is expected if investigators determine the cause and circumstances.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 07, 2026 07:37 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).