Overview
- The 24‑metre statue outside a Havan megastore in Guaíba fell on Dec. 15 as gusts reached roughly 80–90 km/h, while its 11‑metre concrete base stayed intact.
- Defesa Civil sent cell‑broadcast warnings and Havan staff quickly cleared the area and moved cars, and authorities reported no injuries or significant property damage.
- Havan said the site was isolated immediately, debris was removed within hours, and store operations continued as the company opened an internal investigation.
- Multiple videos of the slow collapse went viral online, prompting public commentary even as municipal and company teams conduct technical inspections.
- INMET weather alerts remained in effect through Dec. 17 as the storm also brought hail, roof damage and localized flooding across Rio Grande do Sul, and a similar Havan replica fell during a 2021 cyclone in Capão da Canoa.