A powerful storm that hit the city of Guaíba in Brazil on Monday afternoon caused a nearly 40-meter-tall replica of the Statue of Liberty collapsed. According to local authorities and the company that owned the structure, no injuries were reported.
Strong winds struck the statue, which was located in the parking lot of a Havan retail megastore near a fast-food outlet, as a line of storms passed through southern Brazil. Footage shows the tall statue swaying under the force of the wind before toppling over and breaking apart. The statue’s head shattered into pieces upon impact.
In the clip, the statue can be seen tilting and then falling to the ground, while traffic continues to flow on a busy road nearby. The replica had been erected near a fast-food outlet.
Video footage shows a forty-meter-tall replica of the Statue of Liberty, located across from a McDonald's within the parking lot of a Havan in the Brazilian city of Guaíba, one of several dozen replicas of the statue located throughout the country, collapsing during a wind and… pic.twitter.com/kUid9lwA3b
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Height of Statue of Liberty
This replica was approximately 114 feet tall and was one of several similar structures erected outside Haven Stores locations throughout Brazil. According to local reports, company officials stated that only the upper section, which was approximately 24 meters (78 feet) tall, was affected by the collapse, while the 11-meter (36-foot) pedestal remained intact.
Havan confirmed in a statement that the statue had been in place since the store opened in 2020 and possessed the necessary technical certifications. The company said the area was immediately cordoned off to ensure the safety of customers and staff, and specialist teams were dispatched within hours to remove the debris.
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The mayor of Guaíba, Marcelo Maranata, said there were no injuries and praised the swift response. He said local teams, working with state civil defense officials, secured the area and checked for any further damage in the vicinity.
When did Statue of Liberty Collapsed?
The incident occurred around 3 p.m., at the height of the storm when Statue of Liberty collapsed
Weather authorities recorded wind speeds exceeding 90 km/h in the area. The state’s civil defense had already issued a severe weather warning for the metropolitan region, alerting residents to the risk of strong winds and heavy rain through emergency messages sent directly to mobile phones.
The supermarket continued to operate in unaffected areas, although access to the section surrounding the fallen statue remained closed. Havan said a technical investigation would be conducted to determine the exact cause of the collapse and to ascertain whether any factors other than the severe weather played a role.
Earlier in the day, local civil defense authorities had issued a red alert due to strong winds. Residents were urged to stay indoors, disconnect electrical appliances, and secure doors and windows as a safety precaution.
Videos shared on social media of Statue of Liberty collapsed showed the strong winds wreaking havoc in the area, with some motorists attempting to move their vehicles as a building began to collapse.
Civil defense officials said a technical assessment would be conducted to determine the cause of the collapse and to recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The storm in Guaíba also affected much of Rio Grande do Sul. Other areas reported hailstorms, roof damage, fallen trees, and power outages. Some roads were also partially flooded due to the heavy rain. The National Institute of Meteorology maintained a storm warning with wind speeds of up to 100 km/h. Meteorologists said the strong, sudden winds were caused by a cold front. The weather is expected to improve from Tuesday, although some rain may persist.
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