The incident was caused by a freak storm hitting Santana do Livramento district on the afternoon of 22 December, with gusts reaching 250 kilometres per hour, according to an Eletrosul press statement, which appears to be its only public comment on the incident.
Neither Impsa nor Electrobras would respond to questions from Windpower Monthly while investigations are ongoing. The machines were Impsa 2MW machines with a 100-metre rotor.
Before the storm, Rio Grande do Sul's meteorological office, MetSul, had issued an alert for winds of up to just 120km/h. Reported maximum gusts for the neighbouring town of Rivera in Uruguay, which shares the border with Santana do Livramento, were at just 130km/h.
Impsa, Argentina's beleaguered turbine manufacturer currently tackling solvency problems, has made no public comment.
No damage was reported to Wobben turbines operating in the same district.
Local press sources state that Eletrosul's insurers have concluded onsite investigations, although conclusions are yet to be delivered to its client.
