A powerful windstorm caused a 24-metre-tall replica of the Statue of Liberty to collapse in southern Brazil on December 15. The incident took place in the city of Guaíba, near Porto Alegre, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Local authorities had earlier issued a red alert due to severe weather conditions. Residents were advised to remain indoors, disconnect electrical appliances, and keep doors and windows firmly closed as strong winds swept through the region.
The fallen structure was a replica of New York’s iconic Statue of Liberty and was owned by Brazilian retail chain Havan. It was installed in the parking area of one of the company’s stores and had been standing there since 2020. The company said the parking lot was nearly empty at the time, which helped prevent any casualties.
Videos shared on social media showed people attempting to move vehicles away as the statue began to collapse amid heavy winds.
In an official statement, Havan said all of its statues are built with proper technical responsibility certification. The company stressed that the safety of customers, employees, and the local community remains its top priority.
Local civil defence officials confirmed that a detailed technical inspection will be carried out to identify the exact cause of the collapse. Authorities also said the findings would be used to take preventive measures to avoid similar incidents in the future.