Buildings swayed in Mexico City as a 5.5 magnitude earthquake rattled the capital on Monday.

The US Geological Survey has noted that the epicenter of the quake was located in the sparsely-populated mountains in the southwestern state of Guerrrero, about 160 miles south of Mexico City. Reuters said that the quake was reported to have a depth of 23 miles. But while the quake was felt strongly there, no damage was reported. Unfortunately for the country's capital, located on an unstable former lakebed, they get the brunt of the quake even though the location occurs some distance away.

Reuters noted that Mexico is located on top of three tectonic plates and is one of the most earthquake-prone regions on the planet. Mexico city, which is built on the said ancient lakebed is also surrounded by volcanoes which has liquid-rich soil that amplifies seismic waves.

Mexico City Mayor Miguel Mancera tweeted that there had been no reports of damage or injuries. The head of Mexico's emergency services agency, Luis Felipe Puente reported similar sentiments, and in Guerrero's Pacific resort of Acapulco, where the epicenter of the quake was located deemed everything safe.

Eduardo Garcia, a 54-year-old journalist told Fox News that the quake "felt pretty strong" from the fourth floor of a Mexico City office building. "Anyone who has been in Mexico for many years knows which are the strong ones and which aren't. On the 14th floor, the procedure is to get close to a column or a wall and wait for the building to stop moving, and then get down the stairway," he said.

Rosa Maria Olivares, on the other hand, is a 42-year-old accountant already on the street when the quake hit the city. She shared, "we left where we were and got out into the middle of the street, in case any buildings fell down. I'm just hoping to get over the fright."

While countries like Mexico are prone to earthquakes, they can occur in any area along the cracks in the earth's surface (fault lines), and can be felt over larger areas, although they do not usually last long. There is no way to predict an earthquake, which is why it is vital that one knows the safety precautions in case one does occur.

While "Drop, Cover and Hold On" is the most basic, there are other ways to keep safe during this event. Learn what to do before, in the event of, and after a quake via Ready.gov.