Surat Fire Disaster

Date: April 24, 1837 • Location: Surat, India

A fire broke out in Surat, India, which went on to destroy about 75% of the city.

In April 1837, a fire broke out in the Indian city of Surat, then under British East India Company rule. It resulted in more than 500 deaths and the destruction of 9,737 houses in a 9+3⁄4-mile (16 km) radius. It was the most destructive fire in the history of the city.