BOGOTA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos lamented on Friday the 8.9-magnitude earthquake that hit Japan and triggered a tsunami that left hundreds dead and many missing.
"We are very sorry for this tragedy and we are in solidarity with Japan. We are waiting for information about our compatriots there and will be reporting the effects on our Pacific coast," the president said on his official Twitter page.
A violent 8.9 magnitude earthquake struck Japan's northeastern Honshu island Friday, causing a tsunami of at least 10 meters high.
The quake and tsunami alerted countries bordering the Pacific Ocean, including this South American nation.
Luz Amanda Pulido, director of the Risk Office Management, told RCN television news, "we have been launching a tsunami warning for the Pacific coast and the departments of Valle del Cauca, Cauca, Narino and Choco."
The alert, Pulido said, focuses on 16 municipalities or localities in the region, where an estimated 800,000 people are living.
He said a surge of waves up to 20 inches high was expected along the Colombian coast at around 6 pm local time (2300 GMT). No evacuation order has been issued but Pulido called on authorities to activate contingency plans.
