Strong Wind Warning Issued at the Time...
Gusts Reach Up to 90 km/h
24-Meter Statue Collapses, No Injuries Reported
A storm that struck southern Brazil caused a 24-meter-tall replica of the Statue of Liberty to collapse.
On the 15th (local time), in Curitiba, Brazil, a replica of the Statue of Liberty was toppled by strong winds reaching speeds of 90 km/h. Photo capture by X
According to local media outlets such as G1 on the 15th (local time), a storm accompanied by strong winds reaching 90 km/h hit the city of Gua?ba in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil, resulting in the collapse of a replica of the Statue of Liberty installed in front of a Havan store.
Havan is one of Brazil's major retail chains, known for its buildings modeled after the White House and the replica of the Statue of Liberty installed in front. The statue stands about 24 meters tall, and when including the 11-meter concrete base, the total height reaches 35 meters.
In videos recorded by witnesses, the Statue of Liberty can be seen gradually tipping forward under the force of the strong winds before finally crashing to the ground and breaking apart. The statue fell in a parking lot, and nearby pedestrians and store employees quickly moved their vehicles and secured the area, preventing any injuries or property damage.
According to Brazil's meteorological authorities, a strong wind warning was issued for the Gua?ba area that day, and the maximum wind speed reportedly reached 80 to 90 km/h.
Havan stated that the statue was installed when the store opened in 2020 and announced that a technical inspection would be conducted to determine if there were any causes of the collapse other than weather conditions. The company added, "Immediately after the incident, the area was closed off in accordance with safety protocols, and professionals were deployed to remove the debris."
Marcelo Maranita, Mayor of Gua?ba, said, "The response team, together with the state civil defense authorities, cordoned off the area and checked for additional damage nearby," adding, "Thanks to the swift response in the face of extreme winds, greater damage was prevented."
Recently, strong winds have been reported in various parts of Brazil. On this day, in addition to Gua?ba, other regions experienced roof damage and power outages. On the 10th, strong winds approaching 100 km/h hit the S?o Paulo metropolitan area, causing power outages for about 2 million households. This latest storm is believed to have been caused by cold air colliding with high temperatures.
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