Burned down: in Japan, there was a fire in the Shuri castle of the XIV century, included in UNESCO world heritage list

600-year-old Japanese castle, which is included in the UNESCO world heritage site, was destroyed by fire and turned to coals.

The flames broke out at the Shuri castle of the XIV century, the site of the ancient States of the Ryukyus on 31 October, shortly after midnight local time (15:00 GMT) and quickly spread throughout the wooden buildings that were on site.

Firefighters arrived at the scene at 2:47, and shortly after that local residents were evacuated to safer areas, said the press-Secretary of police of Okinawa río Kochi.

«The cause of the fire is not yet installed, but the alarm security company worked at around 2:30 a.m., said Kochi. — He started in the main temple, and seems to quickly spread to all the main facilities.»

Shuri castle is divided into five separate buildings, the center of which is the Seiden, the main and largest building. According to local broadcaster NHK, the fire started there and then spread to the other buildings in the complex.

84-year-old Tomoko Miyazato, watching the fire, said: «For us, the Shuri castle is like God».

 

BREAKING: Aerial footage shows devastation at the site of Shuri Castle in Japan a UNESCO World Heritage Site which dates back to the 14th century pic.twitter.com/UdOCeh7pkN

— BNO News (@BNONews) October 30, 2019

According to Okinawa police, the guards of the castle first noticed the fire.

«I am extremely shocked by the first reports of fire in the Shuri castle,» said the mayor of Naha Mikiko Shiroma at an emergency meeting. Is a world heritage site, representing Okinawa».

Castle often suffered from destruction since it was built in 1300-ies. He especially suffered great losses during the battle for Okinawa in 1945.

#ShuriCastle, a #UNESCO World Heritage site in Naha, the capital of #Okinawa in #Japan, has been in flames since around 2.40 am on Thursday .#Shuri pic.twitter.com/RAq5D5Ko7o

— NFTV (@nftvnews) October 30, 2019

It was almost completely destroyed in the bombing and is currently the University campus after 1950 in the ruins was founded the University of the Ryukyus.

The castle was largely rebuilt in 1992 as a national Park and in 2000 was inscribed on the world heritage list of UNESCO.

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