NU Online News Service, March 27, 2:18 p.m.EDT

The magnitude 7.1 earthquake that rocked Chile on Sunday is notexpected to be a significant insurance loss, while Japan once againexperienced a significant quake today that fortunately caused nodamage.

Catastrophe modeler Eqecat issued a statement saying Sunday'searthquake in Chile is expected to produce less than $100 millionin insured losses.

The earthquake struck about 124 miles south of Santiago, Chile,at a “moderate depth” of about 22 miles. The earthquake was feltthroughout central Chile, Eqecat notes, including regions affectedby 2010's magnitude 8.8 earthquake.

Tao Lai, principal engineer at AIR Worldwide, says theearthquake, due to its location, can be considered anotheraftershock of the 2010 earthquake.

Catastrophe modeler RMS says that the level of shaking can beexpected to cause “moderate damage” to “moderate/heavy damage”depending on the quality of construction.

The Associated Press (AP) reports that while buildings swayedand there was some panic in the capital of Santiago, there were nodeaths or major damage reported.

In Japan, the U.S. Geological Survey says a magnitude 6.0earthquake struck near the east coast of Honshu, Japan, about 316miles north-northeast of Tokyo at 8 p.m. local time (7 a.m.EDT).

There was no damage or risk of tsunami reported, according toAP.

Closer to home, AP reports that Baltimore Catholicarchdiocese officials say earthquake damage from last year to the200-year-old Basilica of the Assumption in Baltimore could cost $5million to repair.

AP says the Baltimore Sun reports that the cracks in one of the domes in the oldestcathedral in the country appeared soon after last August'searthquake that rocked the Mid-Atlantic states.

The Basilica will be closed during the week for eight months,limiting access for tourists, but it will not affect otheractivity.

AP also notes that repairs to the Washington National Cathedralare expected to run around $20 million.