A 114-foot Statue of Liberty replica at a Havan store in Guaíba, Brazil, toppled during severe storms on Dec. 15 after strong winds caused the statue to bend and fall from its pedestal. The collapse occurred around 3 p.m.; officials reported winds of 50–56 mph and said there were no injuries. Emergency crews secured the scene and cleared debris, while INMET and Defesa Civil issued warnings about heavy rain, flooding and other storm hazards through Dec. 17. The replica had been installed when the store opened in 2020.
114-Foot Statue of Liberty Replica Collapses in Brazil Amid 50–56 mph Winds
Valmir Michelon/Nova Folha/AFP via GettyStatue of Liberty replica in Brazil.
A 114-foot replica of the Statue of Liberty that stood above a Havan store parking lot in Guaíba, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, collapsed during severe storms on Monday, Dec. 15. Eyewitness video shows the statue bending in strong gusts before its raised arm, torch and crowned head tipped forward and crashed to the ground around 3 p.m. local time.
Footage circulated online captured the statue leaning into the wind while its pedestal remained standing. The statue’s upper portion slowly toppled and shattered on impact in the parking area; nearby cars moved quickly out of the way. Local officials reported no injuries from the collapse.
StringersHubStatue of Liberty replica falling in Brazil.
“Since the first moment, we've been on the streets following the situation closely,” Guaíba Mayor Marcelo Maranata wrote on Facebook (translated). “The Civil Defense and the Secretary of Infrastructure are fully mobilized, attending to events and ensuring the safety of the population.”
Authorities said the metropolitan region experienced sustained winds of 50 to 56 miles per hour, which officials identified as the primary cause of the collapse. Emergency teams secured the scene immediately after the incident and crews removed debris and cleared the parking area within hours.
State agencies warned that the same storm system caused additional weather-related incidents across the region, producing injuries and property damage. Brazil’s national weather service, INMET, issued a heavy rain warning in effect through Wednesday, Dec. 17, citing risks of power outages, falling tree branches, flooding and lightning. Defesa Civil urged residents to drive slowly, avoid flooded roads and take precautions because "the force of the water can sweep people and vehicles away."
The replica was installed by retailer Havan when the store opened at this location in 2020. Video of the collapse was shared by multiple outlets, including AccuWeather; local media photos credited to Valmir Michelon/Nova Folha/AFP showed the statue's remains scattered across the parking lot. Reports referenced StringersHub, Newsweek and People for incident details.
