Chris Rock, Diplo share their experience leaving Burning Man. Here’s why thousands were stranded

Chris Rock and Diplo were among the tens of thousands of people who were stranded in the desert at Burning Man due to heavy rainfall.

Diplo, who had a DJ set at the festival from a hot air balloon, recounted his and Rock’s journey out of the desert on Instagram, sharing a video that captured several moments from their multi-phase escape.

In text overlay on the video, Diplo wrote, “A fan offered Chris rock and I a ride out of burning man in the back of a pick up. After walking 6 miles through the mud…all Chris could think about was a f------g cold brew.”

“I legit walked the side of the road for hours with my thumb out cuz i have a show in dc tonight and didnt want to let yall down,” the DJ wrote in the caption of the post. “Also shoutout to this guy for making the smart purchase of a truck not knowing it was for this exact moment.”

He shared more details about their trek out of the desert on his Instagram story, reposting several stories from marketing professional David Hadden.

In one video, Diplo could be seen getting into the back of a van. Hadden said they met a group who had a van and “negotiated a deal to give us a 2 hour ride to the airport,” adding, “He was a big time @diplo fan so that helped.”

Another video caught Diplo walking barefoot on the tarmac at the airport as he explained their journey.

“We did it,” he said. “We walked 6 miles, we hitchhiked to Gerlach, then we hitchhiked to Reno. We’ve got no shoes, we’re going to DC right now.”

Rock didn’t share much from the trek, aside from a video on his Instagram story showing thick, muddy conditions in the desert they traveled through.

While Diplo and Rock were able to escape the desert, 70,000 individuals are still stranded with limited resources.

Here’s everything to know about the situation at this year’s Burning Man festival.

What happened at Burning Man?

In a tweet published the evening of Friday, Sept. 1, organizers announced that all movement in and out of Black Rock City, located about two hours outside Reno, Nevada, had been halted. The gate and airport were also closed.

In a statement shared with NBC News Sept. 2, Pershing County Sheriff Jerry Allen said that all roads going to and from Burning Man would be closed “until further notice” and festival operations had been “halted or significantly delayed” due to “unusual weather conditions.”

“There had been mild to heavy rain for several hours, causing conditions that made it virtually impossible for motorized vehicles to traverse the playa,” the statement read. “Burning Man Org. has asked people to shelter in place until the ground has dried sufficiently to move safely.”

The morning of Sept. 2, organizers said in an update that the area received 0.6 to 0.8 of an inch of rain overnight.

“However, rain returns early Sunday morning and continues through the afternoon as the low pressure system moves eastward across Black Rock City and exits the region,” the update read, adding that rain is expected to stop the evening of Sunday, Sept. 3.

Saturday morning, organizers shared a tweet from the Burning Man Traffic account, saying that the area remains closed and no driving is permitted aside from emergency vehicles.

“If you are in BRC, conserve food, water, and fuel, and shelter in a warm, safe space. More updates to come,” the tweet read.

Hours later, Burning Man Traffic warned, “Do not travel to Black Rock City!” adding that access to the city will remain closed through the remainder of the event.

Allen said in the statement that the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office supported Burning Man’s decision to shelter in place, adding, “There have been small groups of people who have been able to walk to County Road 34 and are awaiting transport provided by Burning Man Org.”

“Some vehicles have been able to drive off the Playa, however, those vehicles have caused damage to the Playa surface, and it is not recommended at this time,” the statement continued, adding that due to the forecast showing more rain, it could cause “further delays and disruptions for participants attempting to leave.”

Why is there an investigation at Burning Man?

In addition to the weather conditions at the festival, the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a death Allen said happened “during this rain event.” The statement said there is no further information available about the death and the family of the individual has been notified.

Allen said that the sheriff’s office’s will continue to work with organizers, the Bureau of Land Management, and other stakeholders to ensure safety prior to, during, and following Burning Man. In the meantime, additional resources were collected from the northern region of Nevada to assist those with medical needs.

Amid the chaotic scenes from Saturday, Allen said that the sheriff’s office and the Bureau of Land Management are continuing to work together and have established plans “to respond to the playa for emergencies only.”

Additionally, they are in the process of trying to provide more cell phone services to attendees so they can “call their loved ones or make travel arrangements.”

What is Burning Man?

2023 Burning Man began Aug. 27 and was expected to run through Sept. 4.

Each year, tens of thousands of people gather in Black Rock Desert to participate in a “temporary metropolis dedicated to community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance,” according to burningman.org.

The annual event is based on the “community” that formed following the original burning of an 8-foot wooden “man” in San Francisco in 1986.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com