The 1944 San Juan earthquake took place in the province of San Juan, in the center-west area of Argentina, a region highly prone to seismic events. 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% of its population at the time.[2] One third of the province population became homeless. It is acknowledged as the worst natural disaster in Argentine history.
Wreckage in downtown San Juan in the wake of the 1944 quake
The earthquake occurred at 8:52 pm on 15 January 1944 and had its epicenter located 30 km north of the provincial capital, near La Laja in Albardón Department. Some 90% of the buildings in the city were destroyed and those left standing suffered such damage that in most cases they had to be demolished. It is considered that the reason for such widespread destruction was the low quality of construction, rather than just the power of the earthquake.
In 1944 many of San Juan's houses were made of adobe and the reconstruction programme prompted the creation of a building code that took into account contemporary knowledge of earthquakes and their effect on buildings. Stronger bricks were used, concrete single-story houses were erected and sidewalks and streets were made wider.
The injured are tended to following the collapse of the city hospital
There was some debate as to whether it would be advisable to rebuild the city in the same place, or to take advantage of the situation to move it to a less earthquake prone location. The former alternative was adopted.
At the start of the reconstruction, emergency homes were built for the population with funds from the national state. This was the first large-scale state-directed construction plan in Argentina, the first stages of which occurred under Peronist rule. Colonel Juan Perón, later to become president, had met his future wife Eva Duarte (Evita), during fundraising activities to help the victims. After the 1955 coup d'état ousted Perón, the reconstruction was continued under the de facto President Pedro Eugenio Aramburu.
The earthquake caused many families to scatter in the confusion, and left around 1,000 orphaned children. 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.[3][4]
The modern city
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. This, however, leaves more than a third of houses as non-seismic-resistant.
A study of the seismic vulnerability of the city, conducted by the National University of San Juan in 2005, showed that 28% of the outlying neighborhoods present medium risk, and 20% of the city itself can be classified as high or very high vulnerability.
^ abAlvarado, P.; Beck, S. (2006). "Source characterization of the San Juan (Argentina) crustal earthquakes of 15 January 1944 (Mw 7.0) and 11 June 1952 (Mw 6.8)". Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 243 (3–4): 615–631. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2006.01.015.
^Listado de terremotos históricos September 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine(in Spanish)
Mark Healey (Fall 2002). (PDF). International Labor and Working-Class History (62): 50–59. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 November 2005.
(in Spanish) Historia del país. El terremoto de San Juan 2004-02-03 at the Wayback Machine.
(in Spanish) Universia Argentina. .
(in Spanish) EIRD. Prevención Sísmica y Desarrollo Urbano.
(in Spanish) Diario de Cuyo. 15 January 2004. .
(in Spanish) Página/12. 7 August 2006. "Hubo un borramiento del pasado" (interview with historian Mark Healey).
The International Seismological Centre has a bibliography and/or authoritative data for this event.
January 10, 2023
1944, juan, earthquake, took, place, province, juan, center, west, area, argentina, region, highly, prone, seismic, events, this, moderate, strong, earthquake, estimated, moment, magnitudes, range, from, destroyed, large, part, juan, provincial, capital, kille. The 1944 San Juan earthquake took place in the province of San Juan in the center west area of Argentina a region highly prone to seismic events 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 of its population at the time 2 One third of the province population became homeless It is acknowledged as the worst natural disaster in Argentine history 1944 San Juan earthquakeUTC time1944 01 15 23 49 32ISC event899270USGS ANSSComCatLocal dateJanuary 15 1944 1944 01 15 Local time08 52 pmMagnitude7 0 Mw 1 Epicenter31 22 19 S 68 26 10 W 31 372 S 68 436 W 31 372 68 436 Coordinates 31 22 19 S 68 26 10 W 31 372 S 68 436 W 31 372 68 436FaultLa Laya fault 1 TypereverseAreas affectedArgentina San JuanMax intensityIX Violent Casualties10 000 killedWreckage in downtown San Juan in the wake of the 1944 quake The earthquake occurred at 8 52 pm on 15 January 1944 and had its epicenter located 30 km north of the provincial capital near La Laja in Albardon Department Some 90 of the buildings in the city were destroyed and those left standing suffered such damage that in most cases they had to be demolished It is considered that the reason for such widespread destruction was the low quality of construction rather than just the power of the earthquake In 1944 many of San Juan s houses were made of adobe and the reconstruction programme prompted the creation of a building code that took into account contemporary knowledge of earthquakes and their effect on buildings Stronger bricks were used concrete single story houses were erected and sidewalks and streets were made wider Contents 1 Aid and reconstruction 2 The modern city 3 See also 4 Notes 5 ReferencesAid and reconstruction Edit The injured are tended to following the collapse of the city hospital There was some debate as to whether it would be advisable to rebuild the city in the same place or to take advantage of the situation to move it to a less earthquake prone location The former alternative was adopted At the start of the reconstruction emergency homes were built for the population with funds from the national state This was the first large scale state directed construction plan in Argentina the first stages of which occurred under Peronist rule Colonel Juan Peron later to become president had met his future wife Eva Duarte Evita during fundraising activities to help the victims After the 1955 coup d etat ousted Peron the reconstruction was continued under the de facto President Pedro Eugenio Aramburu The earthquake caused many families to scatter in the confusion and left around 1 000 orphaned children 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 Peron s first term as president two years later 3 4 The modern city EditAs 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 This however leaves more than a third of houses as non seismic resistant A study of the seismic vulnerability of the city conducted by the National University of San Juan in 2005 showed that 28 of the outlying neighborhoods present medium risk and 20 of the city itself can be classified as high or very high vulnerability See also EditList of earthquakes in 1944 List of earthquakes in ArgentinaNotes Edit a b Alvarado P Beck S 2006 Source characterization of the San Juan Argentina crustal earthquakes of 15 January 1944 Mw 7 0 and 11 June 1952 Mw 6 8 Earth and Planetary Science Letters 243 3 4 615 631 doi 10 1016 j epsl 2006 01 015 Listado de terremotos historicos Archived September 29 2011 at the Wayback Machine in Spanish Healey pp 52 53 Healey Pagina 12 interview August 7 2006References EditMark Healey Fall 2002 The Fragility of the Moment Politics and Class in the Aftermath of the 1944 Argentine Earthquake PDF International Labor and Working Class History 62 50 59 Archived from the original PDF on 21 November 2005 in Spanish Historia del pais El terremoto de San Juan Archived 2004 02 03 at the Wayback Machine in Spanish Universia Argentina San Juan identifican la vulnerabilidad sismica in Spanish EIRD Prevencion Sismica y Desarrollo Urbano in Spanish Diario de Cuyo 15 January 2004 Aniversario del Terremoto del 44 in Spanish Pagina 12 7 August 2006 Hubo un borramiento del pasado interview with historian Mark Healey The International Seismological Centre has a bibliography and or authoritative data for this event Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1944 San Juan earthquake amp oldid 1117230956, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
