Strong winds toppled a 24-meter-tall replica of the Statue of Liberty in southern Brazil on December 15, as severe weather swept across parts of Rio Grande do Sul state.
The incident occurred in the city of Guaíba, near Porto Alegre, during a period of intense wind gusts that prompted emergency alerts from local authorities. The structure, which stood in the parking area of a megastore operated by Brazilian retail chain Havan, collapsed after being struck by powerful winds, according to news reports.
Video footage shared on social media showed the statue swaying moments before falling to the ground, as nearby motorists hurried to move their vehicles to safety. Authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported, as the parking lot was largely empty at the time of the incident.
