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 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 with winds reaching 90 km/h hit the city of Gua?ba in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil, toppling 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 Statue of Liberty replica installed in front. The statue stands approximately 24 meters tall, and when including the 11-meter concrete pedestal, the total height reaches 35 meters.
Videos taken by witnesses show the Statue of Liberty being pushed forward by strong winds before ultimately toppling to the ground and breaking apart. The statue fell in a parking lot, and nearby pedestrians and store employees quickly moved 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, with maximum gusts reported to have reached 80 to 90 km/h.
Havan stated that the statue was installed in 2020 when the store opened, and that a technical inspection will be conducted to determine whether there were any other causes for the collapse besides weather conditions. The company also explained, "Immediately after the incident, the area was closed off in accordance with safety protocols, and specialized personnel were dispatched to clear 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 midst of extreme winds, greater damage was prevented."
Recently, strong winds have been sweeping across various regions of Brazil. On the same day, other areas also reported damage such as roof destruction and power outages. On the 10th, winds near 100 km/h battered the S?o Paulo metropolitan area, resulting in power outages for about 2 million households. This recent storm is believed to have been caused by cold air colliding with high temperatures.
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