What Caused the Collapse of the Havan Statue of Liberty Replica in Guaiba?

A severe weather event on Monday, December 15, caused the collapse of a 24-meter replica of the Statue of Liberty in Guaiba, Brazil, near Porto Alegre in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The structure, a well-known promotional landmark owned by the Havan retail chain, toppled under powerful wind gusts reaching over 90 km/h, but the company and local authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported due to the timely issuance of weather alerts and rapid isolation of the site.

Incident Details and Storm Conditions

The Statue of Liberty replica, which stood in the car park of a Havan megastore and had been installed since the store’s opening in 2020, fell during a period of intense atmospheric instability. The strong winds, generated by a cold front colliding with a system of extreme heat, caused the upper portion of the statue to visibly tilt and then crash to the ground. The structure was mounted on an 11-meter pedestal, which remained intact despite the collapse.

The incident occurred after civil defence authorities for Rio Grande do Sul had issued a red alert warning for the region. Residents were strongly advised to remain indoors, disconnect electrical devices, and secure exterior property as a safety measure against the severe weather. Havan confirmed that the immediate area surrounding the replica was nearly empty at the time, which was crucial in preventing any harm to the public.

Background on Havan’s Landmarks

The collapsed statue is one of several large-scale replicas of the Statue of Liberty that the Havan retail chain installs at its store locations across Brazil. These towering structures serve as a distinctive and widely recognizable visual marker for the company’s outlets. Havan officials stated that the Guaíba statue, like its other replicas nationwide, was constructed with the required technical responsibility certification and adhered to established engineering standards.

The company has faced similar incidents in the past, including the collapse of another statue in Capão da Canoa in 2021, which also occurred during a cyclone. The recurrence of such an event under extreme weather conditions highlights the vulnerability of these large, exposed structures.

Official Response and Outlook

Following the collapse, Havan swiftly isolated the site and deployed specialized teams to begin debris removal without interrupting store operations. Both the company and local civil defence officials have announced that a thorough technical assessment will be conducted to determine the exact cause of the structural failure.

The primary objective of the investigation is to evaluate whether factors beyond the severe wind speed contributed to the collapse and to formulate corrective measures. This effort aims to ensure the stability of similar Havan landmarks across the country and to prevent future incidents involving large, publicly accessible structures during episodes of extreme weather.