Historic Shuri Castle In Japan Destroyed By Fire

(Photo Credit: Getty – Contributor)

World Heritage site burned down

On Thursday, a devastating fire engulfed Shuri Castle, a top tourist destination on the Japanese island of Okinawa and a World Heritage site. What was once the seat of a kingdom that reigned 450 years has now been destroyed.

Although no one was injured in the blaze, the fire burned several buildings to the ground, including the austere main hall. Kurayoshi Takara, a professor at the University of the Ryukyus, told NHK that the fire also took many priceless artifacts. NHK reported that the first report of a fire was at 2:40 a.m. and the fire was extinguished by 11 a.m.

Officials have not yet determined the cause of the fire.

The castle, which was made of wood, was built more than 500 years ago and served as the palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom (1429 to 1879). The castle has been the subject of assault and destroyed several times in its history, most recently in 1945 during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II. The site was restored to its original appearance and officially reopened as a national park in 1992.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization declared Shuri Castle a World Heritage site in 2000. Local government is expected to consult with the central government on the reconstruction of the castle.

By: Maytinee Kramer