SANTIAGO: The 8.2 magnitude earthquake that hit northern Chile Tuesday and triggered a tsunami wave of more than two metres killed at least five people, the interior minister said.

The victims were four men and a woman who died in the cities of Iquique and Alto Hospicio either of a heart attack or crushed by debris, minister Rodrigo Penalillo said.

The quake struck at 8:46 pm local time at a depth of 10 kilometres, 83 kilometres from Iquique on Chile's northern coast, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said. The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a warning.

Chilean authorities — who registered the quake at 7.9 — and their Ecuadoran and Peruvian counterparts also issued a tsunami alert after the quake.

Chilean authorities ordered people along its vast coast to flee for higher ground. Ricardo Toro, of Chile's National Emergency Office (Onemi), said the first waves of the tsunami had reached Pisagua, on the northern coast, providing no more details.

“Everyone along our coast should be alert and ready,” Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa said on Twitter.

In Peru, the southern coastal area was also put on alert, while in Lima roads along the coast were closed, said the mayor of the capital, Susana Villaran.

Earlier when the quake hit, Colbert Ruiz, a commander with the navy informed about all the precautionary measures to be taken by the population.

“An alert means being on watch but does not confirm the arrival of a tsunami,” he said.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center also issued a “watch” for Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica.

It was followed by aftershocks including one of 6.2-magnitude.

Chile is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, and a large earthquake has long been expected in the north of the country.

In its evaluation, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said in a statement: “It is not known that a tsunami was generated.

“An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines near the epicentre within minutes and more distant coastlines within hours.”

In Feb 2010, central and southern Chile were hit by a powerful earthquake of 8.8-magnitude followed by a tsunami that devastated dozens of towns.

The quake left more than 500 dead and $30 billion in damage to infrastructure.

The same coastal area has been the scene of numerous quakes in recent days.

On Sunday, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck, followed by at least two moderate aftershocks, USGS said.