A strong earthquake struck a remote area in northeastern Nevadaearly Thursday, but insurance losses in the sparsely populatedregion are not expected to be significant according to theInsurances Services Office Inc.

Both Risk Management Solutions and AIR Worldwide experts saidthe quake near Wells, Nevada, was of a magnitude 6 on the Richterscale. AIR Worldwide officials said the shock was felt as far awayas Twin Falls, Idaho, nearly 100 miles from the earthquake'sepicenter.

The quake caused major damage in Wells, 11 miles from theepicenter, causing major structural damage to some older buildings,igniting small fires and bursting windows, AIR Worldwide officialssaid.

RMS officials indicated that preliminary reports indicate thatalmost all of the 700 residential structures in the town sustainedsome level of damage and most of the towns' businesses were closedon Thursday either due to damage or interruption to gas and waterservices.

One hundred fifty miles to the east, in the Gateway Mall in SaltLake City, the Salt Lake Tribune's seven-story office buildingshook east to west and its light fixtures swung by about a foot,AIR Worldwide officials said.

Gary Kerney, assistant vice president for Jersey City,N.J.-based ISO Property Claim Services, said the organizationcontinues to review information regarding the earthquake.

“At this time the indications are that there is littleearthquake insurance covering the damaged properties,” Mr. Kerneysaid. “PCS has not assigned a catastrophe serial number, and itdoes not appear at this point that a number will be required.”