A towering replica of the Statue of Liberty, measuring 24 meters in height, collapsed this Monday in the municipality of Guaíba, in southern Brazil, due to the intense gusts of wind that swept through the region.
The incident, which caused no injuries or significant property damage, was captured on video by neighbors and quickly went viral on social media.
The colossus was part of the facade of a store from the Havan chain, known in the country for having these replicas in front of many of its establishments.
In the released images, the structure, over 35 meters tall including the base, can be seen slowly tilting until it collapses onto the parking lot of the premises, just a few meters away from several parked vehicles.
Meteorological authorities reported winds exceeding 90 kilometers per hour in the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre. According to the SER network, the Civil Defense of the state of Rio Grande do Sul had issued an alert a few hours earlier for extreme conditions, advising the public to avoid going outside and to stay away from trees and power lines.
The collapse coincided with the arrival of an extratropical cyclone that affected much of southern and southeastern Brazil, especially São Paulo, where winds reached 100 km/h. The phenomenon uprooted hundreds of trees, left over 1.3 million people without electricity, and forced the cancellation of nearly 400 flights.
Although the collapse of the replica did not cause any casualties, the incident brings the debate over the safety of decorative structures in areas prone to severe weather events into sharp focus, as these occurrences are becoming increasingly frequent due to the effects of climate change in South America.
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