A towering replica of the Statue of Liberty collapsed during a violent storm in southern Brazil, sending debris crashing into a car park as high winds battered the region. The dramatic incident unfolded in the city of Guaíba, where severe weather left widespread damage but, remarkably, no injuries.
In video footage circulating online, “an 110ft replica of the Statue of Liberty came crashing down in Brazil after being struck by powerful winds,” as reported by Daily Mail. The outlet noted that “footage shows how the statue started leaning to one side as a storm tore through the city of Guaiba on Monday before it toppled into a car park and smashed into pieces.”
WATCH: Replica of the Statue of Liberty topples due to strong winds in Guaíba, Brazil pic.twitter.com/pMxN7KLu5y
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Local authorities said the collapse occurred around “3 p.m. yesterday at the height of the storm that ripped through the entire state of Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil.” Cars were seen pulling away moments before the fall, and officials confirmed that “no injuries were reported.”
The statue had been installed in the parking lot of a retail megastore and stood roughly 110 feet tall. Store officials said “only the upper section of the statue, which measured around 78ft, was damaged.” By comparison, “the original Statue of Liberty in New York City stands at around 305ft.”
Following the collapse, “the car park was immediately cordoned off to protect customers and staff,” according to authorities. The megastore’s operator said the replica had been in place since 2020 and “had the required certification,” adding that “specialist teams had been sent in to remove debris.”
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Guaíba Mayor Marcelo Maranata praised emergency crews for their swift response, saying local teams worked alongside state civil defense officials to secure the area and prevent further damage.
The collapse came amid extreme weather across Rio Grande do Sul, where the region experienced “wind gusts of up to 90 kilometres per hour.” Officials had issued “a severe weather warning for strong winds and heavy rain” hours earlier. Elsewhere in the state, storms caused power cuts, damaged roofs, fallen trees and flooding in nearby towns, including Lajeado.
As images of the fallen symbol spread, the incident has prompted broader reflection beyond the storm itself—begging the question of whether this striking collapse could be a harbinger of things to come for Brazil, a nation grappling with allegations of corrupt, rogue judges and rising authoritarianism at the highest levels of government.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a background in journalism from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine.
