At least 36 deaths blamed on Florence

CHARLOTTE, NC (FOX 46 WJZY/AP) – Authorities confirmed this week two detainees drowned when a van was swept away in rising flood waters in South Carolina. So far, 34 people have died as a result of Florence with 26 of those deaths in North Carolina, seven in South Carolina, and one in Virginia. 

Authorities in Virginia said one person was dead after an apparent tornado, the first fatality attributed to Florence not in the Carolinas..

Horry County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Brooke Holden says a sheriff’s office van was carrying two detainees and two deputies from Conway to Darlington on Tuesday night when it was overtaken by flood waters. Officials say the van was traveling near the Little Pee Dee River, one of the bodies of water officials in South Carolina are watching closely as water continues to poor into the state from upriver in North Carolina following the heavy rains of Florence.

LINK: How to help those affected by Hurricane Florence

Marion County Coroner Jerry Richardson confirmed to AP earlier Tuesday that two women died in the incident. Their names have not been released.

Holden says the deputies tried to get the detainees out but couldn’t open the doors. High-water rescue teams plucked the deputies from the top of the van.

The incident is being investigated by the State Law Enforcement Division.

Forecasters predict some rivers in the northeastern area of the state might not reach their highest levels until later this week or next week.

RELATED: President Trump coming to NC, expected to visit areas impacted by Florence

North Carolina’s governor is pleading with thousands of Hurricane Florence evacuees to be patient and not return home just yet.

Wilmington is still mostly an island surrounded by floodwaters, and people are waiting for hours for handouts of necessities like food.

There are 1,050 road closures – incl. I-95 and 40, plus numerous highways & primary routes. Waters are still rising, 2,200 people have been rescued. Never drive around barricades or into flooded/standing water. Visit https://t.co/Pbux7IDYBi (Pic: NC211/Brunswick Co.) #FlorenceNC pic.twitter.com/DRJtgrxooI

— NCDOT (@NCDOT) September 18, 2018

Gov. Roy Cooper told a news conference Tuesday is was hard for residents to leave home, and it’s even harder for them to wait to go back. But Cooper says many roads are dangerous and new hazards are possible as floodwaters fall.

IT’S NOT OVER YET: More than 100 local roads impacted by Florence

Officials say about 10,000 people are in shelters, and a new one is opening in one hard-hit county.

Aides say President Donald Trump will visit North Carolina on Wednesday to see the damage. He’s already tweeted that any criticism of the government response is a “total lie.”