GUAIBA, BRAZIL – A massive replica of the Statue of Liberty came crashing down in southern Brazil on Monday afternoon as a severe storm swept through the region. The 114-foot structure, which stood as a landmark outside a retail megastore, was toppled by intense wind gusts that left the statue shattered on the ground.
Crushed to Pieces
The incident occurred around 3:00 p.m. at the height of a powerful storm hitting the city of Guaiba. Footage from the scene captured the terrifying moment the 40-meter-tall bust began to lean under the force of the wind before snapping and plummeting to the pavement.
Witnesses watched as the upper section of the statue, measuring approximately 78 feet, broke apart upon impact, with the head of the figure being completely crushed. Miraculously, local authorities and officials from Havan, the company that owns the structure, confirmed that no injuries were reported.
Winds Exceeding 90 Kmph
Weather authorities in the region recorded wind gusts exceeding 90 kmph (55 mph) as the storm moved across the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The state Civil Defence had issued warnings earlier in the day, alerting residents to the risk of heavy rain and strong winds via emergency mobile messages.
Havan officials stated that the statue had been in place since the store opened in 2020 and possessed all required technical certifications. The area was immediately cordoned off to protect customers and staff while specialist teams worked to remove the debris.
Cold Front Causes Chaos
The storm caused widespread disruption beyond the fallen statue. Other areas in Rio Grande do Sul reported hail, damaged roofs, fallen trees, and power outages. Meteorologists attributed the sudden and violent weather to a cold front moving through the area.
A technical inspection is scheduled to determine if any factors other than the extreme weather contributed to the structural failure.
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