First deaths from Hurricane Florence reported in North Carolina

The Wilmington Police Department is reporting what it believes to be the first two fatalities caused by Hurricane Florence.

A tree fell on a house on Mercer Avenue, killing a mother and her infant, said the department in a tweet. The father was transported to a local hospital with injuries.

Identities of the victims were not released.

A third person died in Pender County, according to Pender County Emergency Management Director Tom Collins. The woman was at her home in Hampstead. Collins told WWAY the woman had a heart attack Friday morning.

The deaths came as the storm was turning through the southeast part of the state, dumping more than 20 inches of rain in some communities. Gusts of winds in the 50 to 100 mph hour range were also reported, and the National Hurricane Center predicted trees would be knocked down.

Mark Price: 704-358-5245, @markprice_obs