People are looking to the skies as the Big Balloon Bash, celebrating 40 years since the World Hot Air Ballooning Championships were staged in Mildura, started on Saturday.
One of the two feature events was held last night, the Christie Centre Night Glow, with a huge crowd attending Mildura Recreation Reserve.
The second event, the Gowers Homes Key Grab will be on Saturday.
During the week’s competition flights the public is invited to follow the balloons to the target sites around Sunraysia and watch the flying precision of pilots as they drop markers on large white targets. The closest to the centre wins.
Two people were rescued yesterday morning after a hot air balloon struck power lines just outside of Buronga just before 9:00.
The pilot and one passenger were trapped in the basket which was on the ground, but tangled in live lines.
Power supply was cut to over 200 Coomealla properties for several hours.
The pair were safely removed, and no injuries were reported.
