Authorities say three people have died after they were pulled from an apartment fire in Flushing, Queens.

New York City police said two women and a man were pronounced dead at area hospitals early Thursday after the fire was reported shortly before midnight Wednesday. The fire was in an apartment on the ninth floor of a 16-floor brick building.

Police said the victims were unconscious and unresponsive inside the apartment when firefighters arrived minutes before midnight. Authorities said all three victims lived in the apartment.

The victims were identified as 59-year-old Louise Jean-Charles, 37-year-old Nadia Donnay and 69-year-old Napoleon Michel.

Fire authorities said 105 firefighters from 25 units responded to the scene. Five firefighters were treated for minor injuries at area hospitals.

The cause of the blaze remained under investigation.

(AP)