Japan starts disaster-alert system using satellites

Japan, one of the world's most seismically active nations, on Friday began an alert system using satellites to instantly transmit warnings of natural disasters, such as tsunamis, to speed up evacuations.

Tremors occur in Japan at least every five minutes, and the country accounts for about 20 percent of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6 or higher.

Last month, a powerful Pacific earthquake prompted widespread tsunami warnings, although only small waves hit Japan.

The new system, called "J-ALERT," will send disaster warnings from the Meteorological Agency via satellite to city and town offices, automatically activating warning sirens and emergency broadcast systems. Until now, local officials have had to activate these systems themselves after receiving warnings.