The hydraulic-powered elevator in a historic shopping center in downtown Munich got jammed between the basement and ground floor just one hour before midnight. It took 45 minutes before anyone heard their calls for help and they weren't freed till 1.15 am on Monday.

Firefighters had to cut the roof off the cabin and helped the occupants climb free by ladder. But before that could happen, they drilled a hole to let in fresh air and drinks for the people inside, who had imagined their New Year's Eve very differently.

The elevator was in the Schrannenhalle, a Munich attraction lined with boutiques and cafes that opened in 2005. It is a reconstruction of a historic 1854 indoor market made of steel girders and glass.