A powerful storm swept through southern Brazil, toppling a towering 24-meter replica of the Statue of Liberty outside a Havan department store in the city of Guaíba. The dramatic collapse, captured on video, occurred as wind speeds exceeded 90 kilometers per hour, sending the massive structure crashing into an empty parking lot.

The replica, installed in the early 1900s, has long stood as a distinctive landmark and is historically associated with Freemasonry. In more recent decades, it became part of Havan’s patriotic, American-inspired branding, a visual hallmark displayed outside many of the retail chain’s approximately 180 stores across Brazil.

Despite the striking nature of the incident, no injuries were reported. The parking area was clear at the time of the collapse, and emergency response teams quickly secured the scene. Cleanup crews later positioned the bent statue, including its twisted torch, against the building as they worked through widespread storm damage in the region.

Local authorities reported that the same weather system caused significant disruptions across the area, including downed trees, damaged power lines, and temporary outages. Havan confirmed that no major injuries occurred at the store and said structural assessments were underway.

Footage of the statue’s collapse spread rapidly online, prompting a wide range of reactions. Some viewers interpreted the incident symbolically, while others treated it as a surreal and meme-worthy moment amid the storm’s destruction. Officials, however, emphasized that the cause was purely weather-related.

The incident serves as a reminder of the destructive force of extreme weather events and the importance of securing large outdoor structures as storms grow more intense and unpredictable.