A man was found dead in a pool of blood at the Burning Man festival, in what police are investigating as a potential homicide.

The unidentified victim was discovered by a festival-goer, who flagged down a sheriff’s deputy during the main ceremony to set ablaze the giant burning man effigy on Saturday.

About 70,000 people are attending the week-long festival in Black Rock Desert, Nevada, where a full city is built from scratch every year. 

In a press release, police described the death as a “homicide”.

“Pershing County Sheriff’s Office deputies and the Bureau of Land Management immediately responded to the campsite and found a single white adult male lying on the ground, obviously deceased,” the sheriff’s office said.

The discovery is the third death in as many years. Last year, a 39-year-old woman died of an asthma attack, while a 32-year-old man died after an accidental drug overdose in 2023.

In 2017, Aaron Mitchell, 41, died from burns after running into the Burning Man structure fire.

“Although this act appears to be a singular crime, all participants should always be vigilant of their surroundings and acquaintances,” the sheriff’s office added.

“This process is still ongoing and the portion of the ‘city’ where this occurred will have heavy law enforcement presence until the scene can be released.”