A fierce storm battered southern Brazil yesterday, causing the collapse of a 24-meter replica of New York's Statue of Liberty in Guaiba. The monument, installed five years ago as a promotional landmark for retail chain Havan, succumbed to powerful winds that swept through Rio Grande do Sul state.
Local emergency services confirmed no casualties in the incident, though the collapse damaged surrounding infrastructure. The statue had become a local tourist attraction since its 2020 unveiling, symbolizing the region's commercial ties with global markets.
Meteorologists attribute the extreme weather to an unusual cold front interacting with tropical air masses – a phenomenon becoming more frequent in South America's southern cone. The incident has sparked discussions about infrastructure resilience as climate patterns evolve.
