A huge replica of the Statue of Liberty collapsed in Guaiba, Brazil, on Monday afternoon after a powerful storm swept through the city. The nearly 40-metre-tall statue, located in the parking lot of a Havan megastore near a fast-food outlet, was hit by strong winds as a line of storms moved across southern Brazil. The force of the wind caused the statue to lean dangerously before crashing to the ground.
Dramatic video footage circulating on social media shows the structure bending under intense gusts before breaking apart. The head of the statue was crushed into pieces when it hit the ground. Authorities and the company that owns the structure confirmed that no injuries were reported, as the area was largely empty at the time of the collapse.
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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The replica, measuring about 114 feet in total height, was one of several similar statues placed outside Havan stores across Brazil. Company officials said that only the upper section, around 24 metres tall, was damaged, while the 11-metre pedestal remained intact. Havan confirmed the statue had been installed when the store opened in 2020 and had the required technical safety certification.
Storm damage and response
The storm struck around 3 pm, bringing wind gusts exceeding 90 km/h, with some areas recording speeds of up to 100 km/h. Guaiba mayor Marcelo Maranata said there were no casualties and praised the quick response of local teams working alongside state Civil Defence officials to secure the area.
The storm also caused hail, fallen trees, roof damage, power outages and partial flooding across parts of Rio Grande do Sul. While the supermarket continued operating in unaffected sections, access near the fallen statue remains restricted. A technical inspection will now be carried out to determine whether any factors beyond extreme weather contributed to the collapse. Weather conditions are expected to improve from Tuesday, although light rain may continue.
