Authorities in Kolkata, India, dismantled a giant statue of football star Lionel Messi on Monday after strong winds caused the structure to sway [1], [2].
The removal of the monument highlights the tension between ambitious public art projects and the rigorous safety requirements needed to withstand local weather patterns. Because the statue was located in a populated area, officials determined the risk of collapse was too high to ignore.
The statue was located in the Lake Town area of Kolkata [3]. According to municipal reports, the structure posed a significant risk to the public as it became unstable during high winds [1], [4].
"The statue was swaying in the wind and posed a safety risk," an unnamed lawmaker said to AFP [4].
There are conflicting reports regarding the exact size of the monument. Some sources describe the statue as 70 feet tall [1], while other reports list the height as 45 feet [3]. Despite the discrepancy in size, the structural instability remained the primary driver for the demolition.
"We have decided to dismantle the statue as a precautionary measure to ensure public safety," a Kolkata municipal official said [3].
The monument had a short lifespan in the city. Some reports indicate the statue was removed less than a year after its unveiling [2], while other data suggests it was taken down only five months after its inauguration [3].
The dismantling process was carried out by municipal crews to prevent any accidental injuries, or property damage in the surrounding neighborhood [1], [2].
“"The statue was swaying in the wind and posed a safety risk,"”
The rapid removal of the Messi statue underscores the technical challenges of installing large-scale monuments in regions prone to volatile weather. The discrepancy in reported heights and the short duration between inauguration and demolition suggest a possible lack of rigorous structural vetting during the initial construction phase.
