Statue of Liberty Collapses in Southern Brazil: The entirety of Brazil is on its toes as a dramatic incident unfolded in southern Brazil after a Statue of Liberty collapsed in southern Brazil. The incident is linked to a powerful storm system. On Monday, December 15, 2025, a 24-metre-long (79-foot) replica of the Statue of Liberty, which was installed outside a Havan megastore in Guaiba, Rio Grande do Sul, was brought down by extreme winds. As the incident took place, many on-the-scene videos quickly went viral across social media platforms. The viral video showed a massive structure that is slowly tilting before crashing into an empty parking lot.
The viral visuals soon grabbed a lot of attention as they triggered widespread concern. The major attention was not only due to the size of the structure, but it was also because the replica is a prominent landmark that is associated with the Havan retail chain across Brazil.
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Severe Weather and Wind Speeds Cross Safety Thresholds
As per Brazil‘s civil defence authority, Defesa Civil, wind gusts in the region were blowing above 90 km/hr during the storm. The weather system that was developed due to a collision between intense heat and an advancing cold front created unstable atmospheric conditions.
Emergency alerts were sent through cell broadcast messages. These alerts included warnings for the residents of Rio Grande do Sul about strong winds, falling structures, and the need to avoid open areas. According to the authorities, the alerts played a key role in reducing public exposure to risk during the storm.
Immediate Action Prevents Casualties
Even though the collapse was huge, till now there are no reports of injuries or property damage. Guaiba Mayor Marcelo Maranata has also confirmed that wind speeds ranged between 80 and 90 km/h at the time of the incident. Most importantly, the passersby and Havan store employees moved nearby vehicles at the right time and protected themselves.
The statue, which was made by Bartholdi in 1899 and installed in 2020, had been secured to an 11-metre concrete base. However, as the statue itself collapsed, the base remained intact and indicated that the failure usually occurs above the foundation level.
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Havan Launches Internal Investigation
Havan has also released an official statement that confirmed that the area was immediately isolated in line with established safety protocols. Debris removal began within hours. And the megastore’s operations were not disrupted.
The company has already mentioned that all its Statue of Liberty replicas are designed and certified under strict engineering and technical standards. Moreover, an internal investigation has been announced. The probe was aimed to determine why this particular structure failed to withstand the extreme weather conditions.
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Storm Impact Across Rio Grande do Sul
The severe storm affected multiple parts of the state:
- Hailstorms were reported in Tio Hugo.
- Roof damage occurred in Passo Fundo, Santa Cruz do Sul, and Vera Cruz.
- Localised flooding was recorded in Lajeado due to heavy rainfall.
Thanks to the authorities who were very quick in deploying municipal teams to clear debris, and authorities confirmed that there were no major power outages or service disruptions across the metropolitan region.
Past Incidents Raise Structural Safety Questions
This is not the first time a Havana Statue of Liberty replica has been damaged by extreme weather. In 2021, another similar incident took place where a replica collapsed in Capão da Canoa during a cyclone. At that time the wind was speeding between 70 and 80 km/hr. That incident was huge, as it also resulted in material damage.
ConclusionÂ
Finally, the viral video of the 79-foot-tall Havan Statue of Liberty collapsing in southern Brazil is a new sensation on the internet. And the incident has once again reminded the world that extreme weather events are for any infrastructure worldwide.
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