Strong winds topple 24-meter Statue of Liberty replica in Brazil

Strong winds toppled a 24-meter-tall replica of the Statue of Liberty in southern Brazil on December 15, after severe weather swept through parts of Rio Grande do Sul, The Express Tribune reported.

The incident occurred in the city of Guaíba, near Porto Alegre, during a period of intense wind gusts that prompted emergency alerts from local authorities.

The statue, a well-known symbol used by the Brazilian retail chain Havan, stood in the parking lot of one of the company’s megastores.

Video footage circulating on social media showed the structure swaying before collapsing to the ground, while nearby drivers attempted to move their vehicles out of harm’s way. No injuries were reported, as the parking lot was nearly empty at the time.

Earlier in the day, civil defense officials had issued a red-level weather alert for the region, warning residents to remain indoors, secure doors and windows, and unplug electrical appliances due to the risk posed by strong winds and flying debris. Wind speeds in the area reportedly exceeded 90 kilometers per hour.