Japan's world heritage castle burned down in blaze

The main building of a historical castle in Okinawa, designated a World Heritage site, has burned down in a predawn fire, with authorities working to control the blaze that has also engulfed other buildings, local police said Thursday.

Shuri Castle is engulfed in flames in Naha, Okinawa prefecture, southern Japan on early October 31, 2019. [Photo: VCG]

The fire started shortly before 2:40 a.m. local time at Shuri Castle in Naha, the prefectural capital of Okinawa. The police and a local fire department said that more than 10 fire engines were dispatched to bring the blaze under control.

The police are investigating the cause of the fire and said there have been no immediate reports of injuries as a result of the inferno.

The castle, listed as Japan's 11th World Heritage site in December 2000, is a major tourist spot in Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa.

As a symbol of the Ryukyu Kingdom that ruled most of the Ryukyu Islands from the 15th to the 19th century, with kings during the era unifying Okinawa, the castle was built some 500 years ago and designated a national treasure in 1933.

Remnants of the original castle have also been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The castle, however, was rebuilt after previously being burnt to the ground during World War II and its main hall underwent restoration in 1992.

A bird’s view of the Shuri Castle on August 22, 2019. [Photo: VCG]