Burning Man chaos as as guests injured and tents damaged amid 45mph dust storm

A dust storm involving winds of up to 50mph is said to have led to several injuries and damaged campsites at Burning Man's Black Rock City on the weekend. The gate into the community in the US was temporarily closed at one point.

The event, held annually in Black Rock Desert, located north of Reno, Nevada, is running from August 24 to September 1 this year. Early arrivals for Burning Man, which has attracted celebrities such as Cara Delevingne and Paris Hilton in previous years, faced adverse weather on Saturday though.

Footage shared on social media showed dusty conditions on site, with the storm affecting visibility and winds battering tents. There's said to have been four minor injuries. It's also been reported that campsites were damaged and that an art installation in the community was destroyed.

One attendee, Angie Peacock, told the San Francisco Chronicle on Sunday: "We were expecting 35 mph winds according to the radar we were watching so we made sure everything was secure around our camp. Very quickly things turned for the worst, It became complete white out conditions."

They said that attendess couldn't see about 15 feet ahead of them at the time. Angie added: "We saw structures being ripped and torn down by the wind speeds even though we buttoned everything down as best as we could."

Angie told the outlet that some people took shelter in shipping containers, whilst others stayed in their vehicles. The attendee said that the situation has brought everyone "closer together" and that they know their camp will rebuild.

A Burning Man spokesperson told the Mirror: "Black Rock City 2025 is underway, and the communal effort and resilience of the Burning Man community is on full display. Participants are setting up camp and, due to Saturday evening's dust and wind storms, are supporting others where repair work is needed for camps and art installations."

They continued: "Many weather alerts referenced in media coverage do/did not specifically apply to the Black Rock Desert. Specific to the Black Rock Desert and the evening of Saturday, August 23, the National Weather Service issued a wind advisory.

"There were wind gusts over 45 mph for a sustained period of time. Participants and staff were advised to batten down their camps and avoid driving during low visibility. The Gate was temporarily closed, and normal operations resumed within two hours."

The spokesperson then confirmed that several minor injuries were reported following the storm. They told us: "Four minor injuries were reported as a result of the wind and dust."

The statement concluded by reminding that attendees can monitor the community's BRC Dashboard for weather updates. The spokesperson added that a survival guide, which is on its website, is available to those attending.

They said: "Burning Man participants and the public can monitor the BRC Dashboard for the latest weather and traffic updates for Black Rock City. The Burning Man Survival Guide, provided to all participants and available to the public, contains detailed information on preparedness and safety."

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