The damage figures are beginning to roll in from Sunday'searthquake that struck Hawaii and its edging into the hundred ofmillions, but insurance carriers do not know yet what the insuredlosses will be.

The Insurance Services Office, Inc.'s, Gary Kerney, assistantvice president of Property Claim Services, said there is not enoughinformation about the quake for the unit to declare a catastropheas of now. He said they are continuing to research the incident.PCS is a unit of Insurance Services Office in Jersey City, N.J.

According to National Underwriter's Highline Data Service, in2005 there was more than $4.4 million in direct written premium forearthquake insurance in the state. The top two underwriters of thatcoverage were American International Group, with less than 21percent of the market, and Ace American Insurance Company with morethan 18 percent of the market.

A spokesman at AIG said the company was not prepared to discusslosses. A spokeswoman for ACE said the company is still in theprocess of gathering information and it is too early to tell whatthe claims picture will be.

Hawaii County's Mayor Harry Kim was quoted in one report assaying that total damage was assessed at $46 million.

However, Allison Powers, executive director of the HawaiiInsurers Council said locally, the dollar figure is climbing. As ofyesterday, damage estimates were hitting $100 million and stillclimbing. How that will translate into insurance claims isuncertain in part due to the low penetration of earthquake coveragein the state. She noted too that the major portion of the state'spopulation is on the island of Oahu which suffered littledamage.

Neal N. Nakashima, executive vice president of Aon RiskServices, Inc., of Hawaii, said many carriers are flooding theisland with claims representatives apparently to make sure thereare enough people to handle the job. However, it will be weeksbefore any claims estimates are produced, he said.

Much of the damage is not obvious and will require carefulexamination, said Mr. Nakashima. Repairs could even take longer asthere is also a shortage of contractors on the islands, heexplained.

The sense is that the earthquake will not be a majorcatastrophic loss, he continued. However, it will be interesting tosee how insurers treat homeowner damage that occurs in theaftermath of the earthquake, he pointed out, primarily glass orwater damage from leaky pipes.

The question he posed is would claims be paid outright or wouldexclusions be invoked by carriers who feel that the damage occurredsubsequent to the earthquake, in which case the homeowners policywould not cover the loss.

He speculated that the question could produce a legalcontroversy similar to the on-going wind versus flood dispute inLouisiana and Mississippi from Hurricane Katrina.

The United States Geological Survey said the 6.7 magnitude quakestruck the area at 7:07 a.m. local time Sunday, causing poweroutages and widespread damage. The quake was centered 65 miles Westof Hilo, on the island of Hawaii, popularly called the BigIsland.

Reports indicate the most extensive damage was to schools, homesand infrastructure on the big island, but facilities are open forbusiness.

According to the state's Web site, its latest recovery updatereport said all airports were in operation, and electricity,phones, Internet and cable television service were restored statewide by Tuesday.

On the Big Island, which suffered the most severe impact, onebridge was damaged and some roadways suffered cracks and needed tobe cleared of fallen rock.

There was damage to the island's Kawaihae Harbor, thoughcommercial operations were open. Two elementary schools in thestate were closed and two of the state's hospitals were damaged.Maui Memorial Hospital remained opened. Kona Community Hospital'semergency room was open, but patients were evacuated due tointerior damage.

Some parks and cultural sites were closed while damage was beingassessed.