Authorities say they successfully rescued six people from a hot air balloon that collided with a power line tower in western Germany and became snared 70 meters (230 feet) above the ground.
Crews were working Monday to bring down the balloon after rescuing the passengers from its basket the night before.
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A hot air balloon sits on top of a high-voltage power line in Bottrop, Monday, Oct. 1, 2018 after it collided the evening before. Six passengers were rescued from a height of 65 meters (210 feet). (Roland Weihrauchdpa via AP)
In this Sept. 30, 2018 photo specially trained fire fighters climb to a hot air balloon which collided with a high-voltage power line in Bottrop, western Germany. All six passenger were rescued from a height of 65 meters (210 feet). (Caroline Seideldpa via AP)
In this Sept. 30, 2018 photo specially trained fire fighters rescue passengers from a hot air balloon which collided with a high-voltage power line in Bottrop, western Germany. All six passenger were rescued from a height of 65 meters (210 feet). (Caroline Seideldpa via AP)
In this Sept. 30, 2018 photo specially trained fire fighters rescue passengers from a hot air balloon which collided with a high-voltage power line in Bottrop, western Germany. All six passenger were rescued from a height of 65 meters (210 feet). (Caroline Seideldpa via AP)
In this Sept. 30, 2018 photo a helicopter illuminates a hot air balloon which collided with a high-voltage power line in Bottrop, western Germany. Specially trained fire fighters rescued six passenger from a height of 65 meters (210 feet). (Caroline Seideldpa via AP)
A hot air balloon sits on top of a high-voltage power line in Bottrop, Monday, Oct. 1, 2018 after it collided the evening before. Six passengers were rescued from a height of 65 meters (210 feet). (Roland Weihrauchdpa via AP)
The dpa news agency reports the balloon hit the metal tower Sunday evening and deflated, leaving the basket hanging precariously near the top of the structure near the city of Bottrop, northwest of Essen.
A hot air balloon sits on top of a high-voltage power line in Bottrop, Monday, Oct. 1, 2018 after it collided the evening before. Six passengers were rescued from a height of 65 meters (210 feet). (Roland Weihrauchdpa via AP)
Rescue workers climbed up and secured the basket, then brought down the passengers in a five-hour operation. They were uninjured but brought to a hospital for observation.
The balloon itself came into contact with a 380,000-volt power line but the basket fortunately did not make contact with the wires.
In this Sept. 30, 2018 photo specially trained fire fighters climb to a hot air balloon which collided with a high-voltage power line in Bottrop, western Germany. All six passenger were rescued from a height of 65 meters (210 feet). (Caroline Seideldpa via AP)
In this Sept. 30, 2018 photo specially trained fire fighters rescue passengers from a hot air balloon which collided with a high-voltage power line in Bottrop, western Germany. All six passenger were rescued from a height of 65 meters (210 feet). (Caroline Seideldpa via AP)
In this Sept. 30, 2018 photo specially trained fire fighters rescue passengers from a hot air balloon which collided with a high-voltage power line in Bottrop, western Germany. All six passenger were rescued from a height of 65 meters (210 feet). (Caroline Seideldpa via AP)
In this Sept. 30, 2018 photo a helicopter illuminates a hot air balloon which collided with a high-voltage power line in Bottrop, western Germany. Specially trained fire fighters rescued six passenger from a height of 65 meters (210 feet). (Caroline Seideldpa via AP)
A hot air balloon sits on top of a high-voltage power line in Bottrop, Monday, Oct. 1, 2018 after it collided the evening before. Six passengers were rescued from a height of 65 meters (210 feet). (Roland Weihrauchdpa via AP)
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — After over a decade in office, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis stepped down on Wednesday and has been replaced by the senate president who will serve in an interim capacity until a new presidential election is held in spring.
Ilie Bolojan, a 55-year-old former mayor and leader of the center-right National Liberal Party, or PNL, will serve as acting president at Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest until a successor is elected in a presidential race scheduled for May in the European Union and NATO member country.
“I am fully prepared … to assume this honorable position,” Bolojan said Tuesday evening as he vacated the PNL leadership position to assume the role of acting president. “I will do so with decency … working to maintain the stability of our country, ensuring our international partners that Romania is a reliable nation.”
Iohannis, 65, held the presidential role since 2014 and served the maximum of two five-year terms. He announced his resignation on Monday after far-right populist opposition groups — who hold about a third of seats in Parliament — sought his ouster via a motion in the legislature.
Although his presidency should have officially ended in December, Iohannis' role was extended after the Constitutional Court annulled a presidential election two days before a Dec. 8 runoff. The court’s decision came after the far-right populist Calin Georgescu unexpectedly won the first round, after which allegations of Russian interference and electoral violations emerged and plunged the country into turmoil.
Romania’s president has significant decision-making powers in areas such as national security, foreign policy and judicial appointments. However, the role of acting president comes with limited powers.
New dates have been set to rerun the presidential vote with the first round scheduled for May 4. If no candidate obtains more than 50% of the ballot, a runoff would be held two weeks later, on May 18.
It is not yet clear whether Georgescu will be able to participate in the new election.
FILE - Romania's President Klaus Iohannis speaks during a joint media conference with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda at the President's palace in Vilnius, Lithuania, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis, File)
FILE - Romania's President Klaus Iohannis arrives in the symposium "The Idea of Europe" in Kaunas, Lithuania, Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis, File)