Brazilian Replica of Statue of Liberty Collapses During Severe Storm in Guaiba

The replica stands approximately 114 feet tall.

A towering replica of the Statue of Liberty, measuring nearly 40 meters in height, collapsed during a severe storm that struck the Brazilian city of Guaiba on Monday afternoon. According to local authorities and the company that owned the structure, no injuries were reported in the incident.

The statue, which was installed in the parking lot of a Havan retail megastore near a fast-food restaurant, succumbed to intense winds as storms swept across southern Brazil. Video footage captured the moment the tall structure leaned under the powerful wind force before falling and breaking apart. Upon impact, the head of the statue was completely shattered.

The 40-meter-tall replica, situated across from a McDonald's in the parking area of a Havan store in Guaiba, was one of several dozen similar Statue of Liberty replicas located throughout Brazil. The footage shows the statue collapsing dramatically during the windstorm.

According to local reports, the replica measured approximately 114 feet in height. Company officials stated that only the upper section of the statue, measuring about 24 meters (78 feet), was affected by the collapse, while the 11-meter (36-foot) pedestal remained intact.

In a statement, Havan confirmed that the statue had been in place since the store's opening in 2020 and possessed the required technical certification. The company immediately cordoned off the area to ensure the safety of customers and staff, and specialist teams were dispatched to clear the debris within hours of the incident.

Guaiba Mayor Marcelo Maranata confirmed there were no casualties and commended the swift response at the site. He added that local teams worked in coordination with state Civil Defence officials to secure the perimeter and assess any additional damage to nearby structures.

The collapse occurred at approximately 3 pm, coinciding with the peak intensity of the storm.

Weather authorities recorded wind gusts exceeding 90 kilometers per hour in the region. Prior to the incident, the state Civil Defence had issued a severe weather warning for the metropolitan area, alerting residents about the risk of strong winds and heavy rainfall through emergency messages delivered directly to mobile phones.

The supermarket continued operations in unaffected areas, although access to the section surrounding the fallen statue remained restricted. Havan announced that a technical inspection would be conducted to determine the exact cause of the collapse and to evaluate whether factors beyond the extreme weather conditions played a role.

The storm affected much of Rio Grande do Sul state beyond Guaiba. Other areas reported hail, damaged roofs, fallen trees, and temporary power outages. Some streets experienced partial flooding due to heavy rainfall. The National Institute of Meteorology maintained storm warnings, with wind gusts potentially reaching up to 100 kilometers per hour. Meteorologists attributed the strong and sudden winds to a cold front. Weather conditions were expected to improve starting Tuesday, although some rain might persist.