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

Strong winds knocked down a 24-meter Statue of Liberty replica in southern Brazil, with no injuries reported

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 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.

WATCH: Replica of the Statue of Liberty topples due to strong winds in Guaíba, Brazil pic.twitter.com/pMxN7KLu5y

— BNO News Live (@BNODesk) December 15, 2025

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.

In a statement, Havan said the statue had been installed when the store opened in 2020 and carried the required technical responsibility certification. The company emphasized that the safety of customers, employees and the surrounding community remains its top priority.

It added that a technical inspection will be carried out to determine the exact cause of the collapse and to decide on further measures.

Local civil defense authorities also confirmed that an investigation will be conducted to assess structural factors and weather conditions involved in the incident, as well as to identify steps to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Cleanup efforts began shortly after the collapse, and the area around the fallen structure was secured as a precaution.