Japan | Shuri Castle WH site destroyed by fire; replica building symbolized ancient kingdom

A devastating fire on Thursday destroyed most of Shuri Castle, a top tourist destination on the Japanese island of Okinawa and a World Heritage site that was once the seat of a kingdom that spanned 450 years.

No one was injured in the blaze, which was first reported at 2:40 a.m. and was extinguished by 11 a.m., according to local officials and news reports. But the fire burned seven buildings to the ground, including the austere main hall, according to NHK, the national broadcaster.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/31/world/asia/shuri-castle-okinawa-japan-fire.html