Chaos and conflicts marred the exodus from the Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert, adding to the challenges attendees faced during this year’s event.

After being stranded for days due to severe flooding and muddy conditions, festivalgoers finally began leaving Black Rock City. However, the departure process turned chaotic as long queues and delays led to heightened emotions among participants.

Pershing County Sheriff Jerry Allen described how some attendees “lashed out” at each other during the eight-hour wait to leave. He noted that, as often occurs when transitioning from the festival environment to the “default world,” emotions sometimes override reason, leading to tensions among departing participants.

In addition to the challenges faced during the exodus, authorities also released information about the tragic death of a festival attendee. Leon Reece, a 32-year-old man, was found unresponsive on the playa during the event. His death is currently under investigation and is not believed to be weather-related.

Despite the adversity, the festival’s traditional climax, the burning of the man, proceeded on Monday evening, albeit delayed due to extreme weather conditions.

Meanwhile, officials continue to address and debunk various conspiracy theories, including unfounded claims of an Ebola outbreak at the festival.