Earthquake rocks islands, tsunami warning issued

A powerful magnitude 7.0 earthquake rattled the Solomon Islands yesterday afternoon, overturning tables and sending people racing for higher ground. There were no immediate reports of widespread damage or injuries. An initial tsunami warning was withdrawn after the threat passed. Government spokesperson George Herming said he was in his office on the second floor of a building in the capital, Honiara, when the quake rocked the city. He said he crawled underneath his table. ‘‘It’s a huge one that just shocked everybody,’’ Herming said.