Japan has introduced vending machines that automatically offer free food if an earthquake hits

• Japan is installing vending machines that unlock in the case of a disaster, per local reports.
• Machines are being trialed that give out free food and supplies in the event of a severe earthquake.

A Japanese city has installed vending machines that will unlock in the event of earthquakes and other natural disasters, distributing free food and supplies, according to local media.

The coastal city of Ako, in Hyogo Prefecture, is trialing the scheme with two machines installed at the end of March, according to The Mainichi.

The machines ordinarily sell snacks and drinks, but can distribute items for free when a major earthquake or typhoon strikes the city.

As well as containing around 300 bottles of soda and 150 emergency food items, attached lockers also contain emergency sanitary items like portable toilets and masks, the outlet said.

It added that when an evacuation order is issued due to a level-5 or higher warning on Japan's shindo seismic scale, or for conditions such as heavy rain, the machines will unlock.

The emergency vending machine scheme is a partnership between the municipality and Tokyo-based pharmaceutical firm Earth Corp., which has research and production facilities in Ako.

Japan is one of the most seismically active countries in the world. Most recently, on May 26 an earthquake of a 6.2 magnitude on the Richter scale struck east of Tokyo, according to Reuters.

Vending machines are common in Japan, and appear on almost every street selling a wide range of items — some as unusual as bear or whale meat.