Nature’s Fury in Brazil: ‘Statue of Liberty’ Replica Collapses as 90 km/h Storm Hits, Video Goes Viral
Guaíba (The Uttam Hindu): Severe weather caused an unusual incident in Guaíba city of Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state on Sunday. A powerful storm accompanied by strong winds brought down a giant replica of the ‘Statue of Liberty’ installed outside a megastore of retail chain Havan. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media, clearly showing how human-made structures stood helpless against the force of nature. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.
The viral footage shows wind speeds reaching nearly 90 km per hour. Under the pressure of the storm, the massive statue slowly tilted forward and then suddenly collapsed into an empty parking area within seconds. Relief came from the fact that the 11-metre-high base of the statue remained firmly intact. People present nearby acted wisely by moving their vehicles away as soon as the weather worsened. Since the parking area was empty at the time, a major accident was avoided and no injuries were reported.
🚨#BREAKING: Watch wild footage as a replica of the Statue of Liberty topples over after being battered by powerful winds. The dramatic collapse unfolded in Guaíba, Brazil as severe weather swept through the area, sending the towering structure crashing to the ground and… pic.twitter.com/jHUw5rqLNj
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Guaíba Mayor Marcelo Maranata confirmed the incident through social media, stating that strong winds caused the statue to collapse. He added that Havan staff responded promptly, helped people nearby, and secured the area. In its official statement, Havan said public safety is its top priority. The company immediately sealed the area following safety protocols. Havan also claimed that the statue was built according to technical and engineering standards, but an internal investigation has still been initiated. After cleanup operations, the store was reopened.
According to the meteorological department, the sudden weather change was caused by the formation of a low-pressure system in the region. The civil defense department had already issued a ‘silent alert’ on mobile phones, warning citizens in advance. It is common to see such Statue of Liberty replicas outside Havan stores across Brazil, but this is not the first such incident. In 2021, a similar statue collapsed in Capão da Canoa city due to winds of 70–80 km per hour. While some social media users are questioning safety standards, others are reacting with mixed opinions to the dramatic incident.