Brazil: 24-meter-tall Statue of Liberty collapses in severe storm.

A replica of the Statue of Liberty in Guaíba, Brazil, completely collapsed during a powerful storm with winds of 88 km/h, fortunately causing no casualties.

The massive storm toppled the iconic landmark.

At approximately 3 PM on December 15th (local time), a strong storm with gusts reaching 88 km/h toppled a replica of the Statue of Liberty, about 24 meters tall, in the city of Guaíba, Rio Grande do Sul state, southern Brazil. The incident caused no casualties.

Videos shared on social media show the statue gradually tilting and then collapsing into the parking lot of a Havan supermarket. The impact shattered the statue's head, while its 11-meter-high pedestal remained standing. The statue had been installed there since 2020.

Widespread damage

Before the storm hit, Brazil's Civil Defense Agency issued a warning about dangerous weather across the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The storm not only caused the incident but also resulted in other damage such as widespread power outages, fallen trees, damaged roofs, and hailstorms.

Prolonged heavy rainfall also caused flooding in nearby areas, including the city of Lajeado.

Post-disaster recovery efforts

Immediately after the incident, a representative from Havan stated that the area had been cordoned off for safety. Specialized teams were urgently dispatched to the scene to clear debris and assess the safety of the remaining structure.

Guaíba Mayor Marcelo Maranata confirmed that no one was injured in the incident. He also praised the timely coordination of the civil defense forces and related units in handling the scene and mitigating the consequences of the storm.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/brazil-tuong-nu-than-tu-do-cao-24m-sup-do-trong-bao-lon-411092.html