A series of earthquakes has rattled the Tokara islands of Kagoshima Prefecture in southwestern Japan from the night of September 17.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the largest so far was a magnitude 4.7 temblor that struck shortly before 10 p.m.

The quake caused shaking of lower 5 on Japan's seismic intensity scale of up to 7 on Suwanosejima island.

A camera set up on the island captured volcanic glow, a phenomenon in which plumes rising from the crater appear red at night due to high temperatures in the area.

The agency said seismic movements on Suwanosejima, administered by the village of Toshima, became active starting about 9 p.m. on September 17.

Smaller quakes have registered up to 4 on the seismic intensity scale.

S/ Vice Principal, Suwanosejima elementary and junior high school / It shook quite a bit. It was the biggest so far. The school looks normal. Nothing seems to have fallen. I will check the campus after the day breaks.

No tsunami warnings have been issued for any of the quakes.

Officials of Toshima village said there have not yet been any reports of damage.

Part of the Tokara islands has been hit by earthquake swarms since June, with more than 2,000 quakes that can be felt around Akusekijima island.

But officials said the epicenter of the recent series of temblors is some distance away from the June quakes.

The Japan Meteorological Agency is warning people to be cautious as there is a 10 to 20 percent possibility that large shaking could repeat within about a week.