Freedom took a tumble in southern Brazil. A giant replica of the Statue of Liberty collapsed after powerful winds swept through the city of Guaíba, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.
On December 15, a storm with gusts reaching up to 90 km/h hit the area, proving too much for the 24-meter-tall statue standing proudly in front of a large hypermarket. Videos shared on social media show the monument slowly leaning forward before dramatically crashing onto the parking lot below.
The statue had been installed in 2020 on an 11-meter concrete base to mark the store’s opening. It had already suffered damage last year due to heavy rain and flooding. This time, while the statue itself was badly damaged, its concrete base remained intact — standing firm as freedom fell.
No one was hurt
Fortunately, no one was injured. Store employees and nearby residents quickly secured the area, preventing any further damage. Guaíba’s mayor, Marcelo Maranata, confirmed the incident on social media, praising the rapid response: “Despite the extreme winds, we were able to prevent any human casualties.”
Brazil’s civil defense authorities have since maintained a heavy rain alert in the region, warning of possible power outages, falling objects, flooding, and lightning. A reminder that even symbols of freedom sometimes can’t stand up to the weather.
