Casey Donovan among thousands trapped at Burning Man during flood emergency: Mud pile

May 2024 · 2 minute read

Casey Donovan has shared a message with her thousands of followers after becoming trapped at US festival Burning Man amid a flood emergency.

The unexpected weather event has caused chaos at the event, which is held annually in the Nevada desert, with organisers urging thousands of trapped attendees to conserve food and water.

Two to three months’ worth of rain – up to two centimetres – hit the remote area on Friday, forcing officials to block any entry or exit from the festival.

One person has now been confirmed dead.

Singer and reality star Donovan took to Instagram on Sunday to share an update on the situation.

“G’day everyone. I’ve found some emergency Wi-Fi out here on the playa (ground) at Burning Man. It’s officially been rained in, being that it is the desert, when rain happens – not that it happens often – it is a literal mud pile,” she said in a Story.

“So I’m thinking I might be a little stuck here until it all dries up … But forecast is more rain. So chookas to me, chookas to you … I’m a celebrity, get me out of here!

“Hopefully I’ll be arriving in Sydney on my flight on Friday … slim chance.”

The former Australian Idol star also shared a post to her Instagram grid, featuring a picture of a rainbow over a soaked campsite.

“Here’s a fabulous picture of a full rainbow putting on a show for some smiles in not such an ideal situation!” she wrote in the caption.

“Found some Wi-Fi … Have been rained into the playa [ground] here at Burning Man. Good thing is, we are safe, we have food and ‘dryish’ shelter it is very moist here and forecast is for more rain over the next few days … fingers and toes crossed for some sunshine to clear things up.

“But for now, ChoooookAsssssses [good luck] and I’ll get in touch when I find some more Wi-Fi.”

Donovan was just one of the 73,000 festival-goers stranded at the festival site in Black Rock Desert, located 177 kilometres north of Reno, when the storm hit.

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Police confirmed that one person had tragically lost their life during the “rain event”, but no further details have been given.

“As this death is still under investigation, there is no further information available at this time,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement on Saturday night.

The popular festival has been described as a “muddy hellhole” amid the crisis.

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