This moderate to strong earthquake (estimated moment magnitudes range from 6.7 to 7.8) destroyed a large part of San Juan, the provincial capital, and killed 10,000 of its inhabitants, 10 percent of its population at the time.

The earthquake occurred at 8:52 pm on 15 January 1944 and had its epicenter 30 km north of the provincial capital, near La Laja in Albardón Department.

Colonel Juan Perón, later to become president, had met his future wife Eva Duarte (Evita), during fundraising activities to help the victims.

According to historian Mark Healey, the issues surrounding the orphans and the nearly 100,000 homeless had a profound influence on the shaping of social legislation enacted during Perón's first term as president, two years later.

[4][5] As of 2006, San Juan has a population of around 400,000, and 63% of its approximately 90,000 homes, and 100% of its public institutional buildings, were built under seismic safety regulations.