BEIT SHEMESH, Israel (VINnews) — An Iranian missile that struck a bomb shelter in the city of Beit Shemesh near Jerusalem early Sunday afternoon, killing people who had sought refuge, Israeli police said. Authorities noted this could be the first time in recent memory that those taking shelter were killed by such an attack.

Commander Avshalom Peled said the shelter took a direct hit. Meir Barel, a spokesman for the Zaka emergency response service, said the structure collapsed under the impact. Earlier statements had described the site as a residential building.

CNN correspondent Jeremy Diamond reported that the shelter was located beneath a synagogue in a residential area, where people had gone to escape incoming attacks. Rescue crews continue to dig through rubble as the death toll may rise.

The missile strike caused severe damage to nearby residential buildings, leaving shattered concrete and debris throughout the area.

Dror Eini, a paramedic with Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency response service, said: “We saw destroyed homes, flames and smoke rising from residential buildings, wrecked cars, and significant chaos at the scene.”