A 24-metre Statue of Liberty replica has crashed head-first into the floor after powerful winds brought it tumbling down. The replica was left resting on its crown after gusts reaching up to 90km/h sent the giant statue flying in Brazil on Monday.
Footage shared on social media showed the statue swaying back and forth as strong winds swept through Guaíba, a city in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, on December 15. The entire upper section eventually crashed into the car park below as vehicles drove away, but one white car remained parked dangerously close to the base.
Authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported and company officials said is 11-metre concrete base remained intact.
Strong wind gusts were estimated at between 80-90km/h in the region on Monday. Local civil defence agencies had issued a red weather alert about strong winds, and advised residents to stay indoors, secure property and avoid open areas.
Mayor Marcelo Maranata of Guaíba praised the swift safety response by store staff and emergency teams.
Havan officials have confirmed that an investigation will ensue to determine the cause of the structure’s failure. It said that when it had been installed in 2020, it had complied with technical and engineering standards.
The heavy storm brought hail, roof damage, fallen trees and localised flooding across parts of the state, according to local reports. Crews have begun the process of clearing debris.
Some users on X mistakenly thought the original statue in New York had fallen over, causing confusion on social media. One user posted: « As a New Yorker, this was WILD TO WATCH. »
The UK has also been experiencing extreme weather, with the Met Office issuing an amber weather warning for “very strong and disruptive winds” last week during Storm Bram.
It had predicted gusts of 70 to 80 mph for a few hours, with the potential to reach 90 mph in some areas. Traffic Scotland notes that any wind speeds exceeding 30 miles per hour are considered hazardous for drivers.
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