TWO more people have been confirmed dead in the devastating volcanic eruption on White Island – bringing the grim total to eight.
Details – including the nationalities – of the latest victims have not been released as cops struggle to identify those who suffered horrific burns in Monday's blast.
They were among 30 people – including two British women – rushed to hospital after the volcano erupted.
Nine people are still missing but a recovery operation has been delayed over fears of further eruptions at the tourist hotspot.
The latest deaths come as Australian lawyer Gavin Dallow and his 15-year-old stepdaughter Zoe Hosking were confirmed dead today.
In a statement issued by the Dallow family, grieving relatives said they "mourn the loss of Gavin and Zoe."
They added: "Gavin was a wonderful son and brother. We’ll miss him at the cricket and we’ll miss him at the football. He was a generous man, always helping his family and his community.
"Our hearts break at the loss of Zoe at such a young age.
Zoe was an active Girl Guides member while her mother and stepfather are adored by the Rotary Club of Adelaide.
When asked to summarise the impact of his son’s death, Mr Dallow said: “Naturally, it will have a big impact. We’re just coming on Christmas. We’re really going to miss him.”
Three more Australians died in the disaster, friends have confirmed.
Jason Griffiths, 33, from Coffs Harbour, NSW, has died from his injuries after he was taken to hospital in critical condition.
He had been travelling with couple Karla Mathews, 32, and Richard Elzer, 32, who were among those still on the island and are now dead, friends said.
And Brisbane mother Julie Richards, 47, and her daughter Jessica, 20, were named by New Zealand Police earlier today as the first two Australians killed in the disaster.
John Mickel, a friend of Julie Richards’ brother Michael, spoke on behalf of the family in Brisbane today about the adventurous pair who loved the outdoors, as well as cruising.
“It is just devastating news,” he said.
BADLY BURNED
Some victims have been so badly burned that officials are struggling to identify them.
New Zealand Police Deputy Commissioner John Tims said officers are trying to return bodies to grieving families.
He said: "The nature of the injuries that people have suffered is severe and means identifying them is a complex matter.
"We are working through the process to identify them as quickly as possible, to return those who have died to their loved ones."
Police Minister Stuart Nash told RNZ: "As you can imagine there are a number in hospital who cannot communicate because they have had significant burns not only to skin but to internal organs.
Our hearts break at the loss of Zoe at such a young age
"They cannot speak in any way, shape or form."
Medical authorities say 27 people have horrific burns to 30 per cent or more of their body.
A further 22 are also on airway support due to the severity of their burns.
Counties Manukau Chief Medical Officer, Dr Peter Watson, said an extra 1.2 million square centimetres of skin would be needed to treat burns victims.
He added: "The nature of the burns suffered is complicated by the gases and chemicals in the eruption. This has necessitated more rapid treatment of these burns than is the case for thermal-only burns.
"This is just the start of a very long process that for some patients will last several months."
New Zealand's GeoNet seismic monitoring agency had raised the volcano's alert level on November 18 from one to two on a scale where five represents a major eruption.
Scientists had noted an increase in volcanic activity in recent weeks, leading to questions as to why tourists were still being allowed on the island.
Emeritus professor in Geosciences at Melbourne's Monash University, Raymond Cas described White Island tragedy as a "disaster waiting to happen".
The island's remote location 30 miles off the coast meant it was impossible in an emergency to get help quickly, he said.
"I have been to White Island twice and both times as soon as I landed I felt distinctly uncomfortable," he told Newsweek.
"When you are on the island, you walk into a huge amphitheatre-like crater and you are immediately confronted with many steaming gas vents exuding all kinds of noxious gases.
"A number of times, one of those crater lakes can be suddenly overflowed and you can get a torrent of boiling water down the slope.”
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