Japan to give tsunami alerts to 6 Pacific nations

TOKYO, Monday (Reuters) Japan will give tsunami warning data to six countries in the northwestern Pacific starting on Monday, three months after the deadly Indian Ocean tsunami underscored the importance of such early alert systems.

Japan's Meteorological Agency will give tsunami-related data to Russia, South Korea, China, the Philippines, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea if an earthquake measuring magnitude 6.5 or greater occurs in a northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean near Japan and such countries.

"This will provide a reference for strengthening measures against disasters and have the benefit of decreasing damage from tsunamis," said Akira Nagai, deputy director at the agency's earthquake and tsunami observations division.