A large replica of the Statue of Liberty collapsed during a powerful storm in southern Brazil on December 15. The statue, which is about 24 metres tall, was located outside a Havan megastore in Guaíba, a city in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Strong winds hit the region after severe weather warnings were issued by Defesa Civil, Brazil’s civil defence authority.

According to officials, wind speeds during the storm reached between 80 and 90 kilometres per hour. Due to the intense winds, the replica statue slowly tilted and then crashed into the store’s parking lot. A video of the incident later appeared on social media and quickly spread online. The footage showed the statue leaning for several seconds before falling to the ground, creating panic among people who saw it.

The statue had been installed in 2020 and stood on a strong 11-metre-high concrete base. Interestingly, while the statue itself collapsed, the concrete base remained intact. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident, and there was no major damage to property.

Eyewitnesses said that store employees reacted quickly as soon as the situation became dangerous. They moved parked vehicles away from the area before the statue fell, which helped prevent further damage. Guaíba Mayor Marcelo Maranata also confirmed the incident through a social media post. He stated that the storm was very intense and praised the Havan staff for their quick thinking and responsible action.

Havan, the retail company that owns the store, released a statement saying that the area was immediately sealed off after the collapse. The company said it followed all safety rules and protocols to ensure public safety. Debris from the fallen statue was cleared within a few hours, and the store continued to operate normally without any interruption.

The statue had been installed in 2020 and stood on a strong 11-metre-high concrete base. Interestingly, while the statue itself collapsed, the concrete base remained intact.  Defesa Civil also sent emergency alerts directly to people’s mobile phones. These alerts overrode silent mode to warn residents about strong winds, possible structural damage, and dangerous weather conditions.

The storm affected several other cities in Rio Grande do Sul as well. Hail was reported in Tio Hugo, while roofs were damaged in Passo Fundo, Santa Cruz do Sul, and Vera Cruz. Heavy rainfall led to local flooding in Lajeado. However, officials confirmed that there were no major power cuts or disruptions to essential services across the region.