IN PHOTOS: Okinawa's symbolic Shuri Castle goes up in flames english.kyodonews.net

KYODO NEWS - 1 minute ago - 13:14 | All, JapanShuri Castle, a symbol of Okinawa's cultural heritage as well as its recovery from the scars of fierce World War II ground battles, was reduced to ruins in a predawn fire on Oct. 31, 2019.
(Screenshots from video footage supplied by a local resident shows the raging fire between 3:50 a.m. and 4:50 a.m.)(Hokuden north hall)(Hokuden north hall)(Local residents watch in despair from afar)The ancient castle dates from and represents the Ryukyu Kingdom, which spanned 450 years until Okinawa was integrated into Japan in 1879.
(Photo of Shuri Castle, believed to have been taken in Meiji Era)[Photo courtesy of Yonezawa City Uesugi Museum]It was destroyed by fire during World War II but was restored, and along with its grounds, opened as a national park in 1992.
Later the same year, the historical complex, along with other castle ruins and ancient monuments on the island prefecture, was registered as Japan's 11th UNESCO World Heritage site.
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