An explosion is reported to have hit a reception hall in the Israeli town of Rishon Letzion, south of Tel Aviv, tonight.
Israeli radio is reporting that up to 40 people have been injured in the blast as the ceiling of the hall collapsed. Many more people are believed to be still trapped under the rubble.
Israeli police have said they do not yet know what caused the blast, which occurred at around 11 p.m. local time in an industrial area of the coastal city.
The blast took place a short time after Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon began meeting with US President George W Bush in Washington.