MEXICO CITY — A strong earthquake rattled southern Mexico this morning, sending people fleeing into the streets in Pacific coast towns and in the nation's capital.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the magnitude-6.2 quake was centered in a sparsely populated, mountainous area of Oaxaca near the southern Pacific coast.

"It felt strong, very strong," said Tomas Herrera Sanchez, a police officer on duty in the town of Santiago Pinotepa Nacional, the closest sizable town to the quake's center. "There are people who got scared and left their houses," but there were no immediate reports of damage, he said.

The Oaxaca state civil defense department also said it had not received any immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The quake also swayed buildings in Mexico City, 220 miles northeast of the epicenter, sending people fleeing into the streets and parks. City officials reported no significant damage.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake hit at 3:22 a.m. The quake was centered about 80 miles west-southwest of Oaxaca city, the state capital. The USGS earlier estimated the magnitude at 6.5.