Japan, October 31: A major fire has engulfed Japan's historic Shuri castle on the southern island of Okinawa early on Thursday morning. The raging flames spread throughout the World Heritage site's complex. The blaze is reported to have started before 3 am and the cause is still unknown. Several fire engines rushed to the spot as soon as the raging flames engulfed the Castle.

Shuri Castle is a key part of a complex dating back to the Ryukyu Kingdom and is believed to have been in use from around the 1400s.  It was designated Japan's national treasure in 1933. UNESCO Adds Bahrain's Dilmun Burial Mounds to World Heritage List.

Watch Video of the fire:

The Castle reportedly burnt to the ground during World War Two. The main hall was restored in 1992 and served as the venue of a banquet for leaders attending the Group of Eight summit. The remnants of the original castle have also been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 31, 2019 07:50 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).