On this day 119 years ago, on April 18, 1906 (March 25, 1906), the most devastating earthquake in the history of the United States. A powerful earthquake occurred in San Francisco On April 18, 1906, a powerful earthquake occurred in San Francisco, the United States. The earthquake destroyed 3,000 acres of land in the city center. The ensuing fire caused more damage than the earthquake. The fire that lasted for miles burned most of the buildings that were on the verge of collapse, burned or killed thousands of people, and left hundreds of thousands homeless. Frequent aftershocks forced more than half of the city's residents to spend the night in squares and parks. The damage caused by the earthquake exceeded $200 million. Buildings destroyed by major earthquakes and fires in San Francisco The blazing fire in San Francisco left 250,000 homeless