New Zealand volcanic eruption site still 'too dangerous' for recovery work as death toll rises

"Increased volcanic activity" on White Island is holding New Zealand police back from recovering the bodies of those presumed dead in Monday's eruption.

Deputy Commissioner John Tims said in a statement that experts told police the chance of further eruption is "significant and it is too dangerous to return to the island." 

On Thursday in Whakatane, on New Zealand's North Island, police deputy commissioner Mike Clement said police cannot make any promises of a timeline for retrieving the bodies still on the island. 

"I don't have a plan that satisfies me that the risk is able to be mitigated to the extent I need it to be mitigated to keep people safe."

Volcanic tremors on White Island were intensifying to a level not seen since an eruption in 2016, the GeoNet seismic monitoring agency said, calculating a 40 per cent to 60 per cent chance of another eruption within the next 24 hours.

Police have previously said they believe there were 47 people on the volcanic island when it erupted. New Zealand Police said the death toll had risen to eight, after two more people died in hospital.

"We understand and appreciate the desire of families and the public for the bodies to be retrieved as soon as possible," he said in the statement. Tims said the number confirmed as missing has increased to nine. Two of them are from New Zealand and seven from Australia, police said.

Brian Dallow told reporters that his son, Gavin, is among the dead. 

Watch: Brian Dallow talks about how much he will miss his son

Dad's emotional announcement confirms death of volcano victim Gavin Dallow

5 years ago

Duration 2:00

Brian Dallow, whose son was killed in the White Island volcano tragedy, confirms the death and talks about how much he will miss his son.

Australian media reported, before the latest death toll number of eight was announced by police, that Gavin's wife, Lisa, was seriously burned and still in hospital. Lisa's teenage daughter, Zoe Hosking, was also on the island and is currently on the list of those unaccounted for.

The New Zealand Herald noted there could be some overlap between the missing and the dead, as police work to confirm identities of all those believed to be on the island Monday.

A famed tourist attraction, the White Island volcano is one of several in New Zealand and thousands that encircle the Pacific.

WATCH: See eyewitness video of Monday's volcano eruption

Eyewitness captures sudden volcano eruption

5 years ago

Duration 0:59

See the huge plume of ash and steam after a New Zealand volcanic island erupts