A 24-meter large replica of the Statue of Liberty in southern Brazil was brought down by strong gusty winds, a video of which has gone viral on social media.
The replica of the Statue of Liberty was placed outside Havan’s megastore in Guaíba, Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. Guaíba Mayor Marcelo Maranata confirmed that the ‘Statue of Liberty’ collapsed as winds reached 80-90 km/h but no one was hurt thanks to immediate isolation by Havan staff.
The viral video showed the statue slowly leaning forward before crashing into the empty parking lot as winds hit over 90 km/h.
The clip shows the statue tilting and then toppling to the ground, while vehicles continue moving on a busy road nearby. The replica was installed near a fast-food outlet.
The 11-meter base held firm, and quick action by onlookers to move vehicles prevented any damage or injuries.
“On Monday afternoon (15th), our city was hit by strong wind gusts that reached 80 mph. Since the first moment, we’ve been on the streets following the situation closely. The Civil Defense and the Secretary of Infrastructure are fully mobilized, attending to events and ensuring the safety of the population. In case of an emergency, contact the Civil Defense at 199,” he said in an Instagram video.
The replica of Statue of Liberty was located in the car park of a Havan retail store and the incident happened on December 15, Monday. The structure collapsed in the city of Guaíba, near Porto Alegre, within the metropolitan area of Rio Grande do Sul and fortunately, no injuries were reported at the site.
Reports claim that the statue belonged to the Havan retail chain. “The area was immediately isolated by the company, following all safety protocols,” Havan said in a statement, adding that debris removal started hours later with no interruption to store operations. The retailer emphasized the statue met technical standards across its nationwide replicas and launched an internal probe, as per Times Now.
Strong wind warning in Rio Grande do Sul
Earlier in the day, the local civil defence had issued a red alert warning due to severe winds. Residents were urged to remain indoors, disconnect electrical devices, and secure doors and windows as a safety measure.
Defesa Civil issued cell broadcast alerts that interrupted mobile phones, including those on silent mode, warning of severe storms, strong winds exceeding 90 km/h, and potential hazards such as falling structures. Residents were advised to avoid open areas and remain alert to trees, poles and signboards.
The low-pressure system reached the metropolitan region of Rio Grande do Sul by mid-afternoon, triggering dense cloud formation and isolated gales as extreme heat collided with a cold front. Meteorological agencies reported wind gusts consistent with earlier forecasts, confir ..
