TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - On Monday afternoon, December 15, 2025, a towering Statue of Liberty replica outside a Havan megastore in southern Brazil collapsed as violent storms lashed the region, with wind gusts strong enough to tear the 114-foot structure from its pedestal, StringersHub and Newsweek reported.
Amid the dramatic footage circulating online, authorities confirmed no one was injured, thanks to immediate safety measures performed by Havan staff.
Mayor Marcelo Maranata said the metropolitan area had been battered by sustained winds of up to 56 miles per hour, conditions that ultimately proved too severe for the towering replica to withstand.
The incident highlighted the intensity of the storm system sweeping through Rio Grande do Sul, prompting renewed scrutiny of large outdoor structures installed in high-exposure commercial zones.
Video from the scene captured the moment the statue’s upper section began to flex under the pressure, bowing visibly as the wind intensified while its base remained firmly anchored.
The statue leaned forward in a tense, unsettling arc before slamming into the vacant parking lot below.
Officials later expressed relief that quick-thinking bystanders moved vehicles out of harm’s way, narrowly avoiding injuries or damage, as per People.
Mayor Marcelo Maranata said officials acted quickly as the storm strengthened, with emergency teams dispatched citywide to assess and manage emerging risks. Havan representative stated that the area was swiftly secured, debris was removed within hours, and an internal investigation has since been launched.
“Since the first moment, we've been on the streets following the situation closely,” Maranata wrote in a Facebook post. “The Civil Defense and the Secretary of Infrastructure are fully mobilized, attending to events and ensuring the safety of the population.”
The statue’s collapse came as part of a broader wave of weather-related damage across the state, with officials reporting injuries and property losses in multiple areas.
A heavy rain alert remains in place through Wednesday, December 17, with Brazil’s national weather service, INMET, warning of possible power outages, falling trees, flooding and lightning.
Civil defense officials have also urged residents to drive cautiously, avoid flooded streets, and heed emergency advisories, after earlier issuing a red alert for severe winds that prompted warnings to stay indoors, unplug electrical devices, and secure homes against the intensifying storm.
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