Officials in New Zealand will on Friday recover the bodies of eight victims of the volcano eruption on White Island, despite continued volcanic activity.

Police told reporters on Thursday the site is expected to be stable enough to allow the operation to proceed “at first light”.

However, GeoNet – which monitors seismic activity in New Zealand – said volcanic tremors remain high and there is a “50-60 per cent likelihood of future eruptive activity in the next 24 hours”.

New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern said: “Everyone is desperate to get those victims back and so I know it will be a matter that the police are utterly focused on.”

Two more people died on Wednesday night while being treated for severe burns in hospital, pushing the death toll up to eight, not including those who remain on the island.

New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos Show all 20 1 /20 New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos Smoke from the volcanic eruption of Whakaari, also known as White Island. New Zealand police said the blast had left five people dead, but that number will now rise to include those people who were still on the island when it erupted allessandrokauffmann via Reuters New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos Emergency services attend to an injured person TVNZ via Reuters New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos Thick smoke from the volcanic eruption SCH via Reuters New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos The volcano on New Zealand's White Island spewing steam and ash moments after it erupted Michael Schade/AFP via Getty New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos White Island Tour operators rescuing people minutes after the volcano erupted Michael Schade/AFP via Getty New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos Thick smoke from the volcanic eruption from a distance of a vessel SCH via Reuters New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos An aerial photo shows White Island after its volcanic eruption New Zealand Herald via AP New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos An aerial view shows smoke bellowing above the crater of Whakaari GNS Science via Reuters New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos Emergency services attend to an injured person arriving at the Whakatane Airfield New Zealand Herald via AP New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos This handout photograph courtesy of Michael Schade shows the volcano on New Zealand's White Island spewing steam and ash minutes following an eruption on December 9, 2019. - New Zealand police said at least one person was killed and more fatalities were likely, after an island volcano popular with tourists erupted on December 9 leaving dozens stranded. (Photo by Handout / Michael Schade / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / MICHAEL SCHADE" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS == NO ARCHIVE (Photo by HANDOUT/Michael Schade/AFP via Getty Images) HANDOUT Michael Schade/AFP via Getty New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos A wreckage of a helicopter amid ash minutes after the volcano on New Zealand's White Island erupted Michael Schade/AFP via Getty New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos SCH via Reuters SCH via Reuters New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos This image released by GNS Science, shows plumes of smoke from a volcanic eruption on White Island, seen from Whakatane, New Zealand Monday, Dec. 9, 2019. A volcano erupted Monday on a small New Zealand island frequented by tourists, and a number of people were missing and injured after the eruption. (GNS Science via AP) GNS Science via AP New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos An aerial view shows smoke bellowing above the crater of Whakaari, also known as White Island, volcano as it erupts in New Zealand, December 9, 2019, in this image obtained via social media. GNS Science via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. WATERMARKS AT SOURCE. GNS SCIENCE GNS Science via Reuters New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos epa08056782 A handout photo made available by the New Zealand Police shows White Island (Whakaari) volcano, as it erupts, in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, 09 December 2019. According to police, at least five people have died in the volcanic erruption at around 2:11 pm local time on 09 December. The island is located around 40km offshore of the Bay of Plenty. EPA/NEW ZEALAND POLICE HANDOUT BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE MANDATORY CREDIT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES NEW ZEALAND POLICE HANDOUT EPA New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos An aerial view shows hikers walking on the crater rim of Whakaari, also known as White Island, shortly before the volcano erupted GNS Science via Reuters New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos Emergency services at Whakatane Airport Getty Images New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos A rescue helicopter arrving at the airport Getty Images New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos White Island (Whakaari) volcano, as it erupts Michael Schade/EPA New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos White Island (Whakaari) volcano, shortly before erupting Michael Schade/EPA

A total of 47 people were on White Island when the eruption occurred, including 24 Australians, five New Zealanders, four Germans, two British, two Chinese and one Malaysian.

Thirty people were hospitalised for severe burns caused by burning debris and toxic gas released by the eruption.

Volcanologists speculate many may have also been hit by fierce jets of scalding steam bursting laterally from the volcano.

Doctors have ordered 1.2 million sq cm of skin from the US to help treat patients, who are currently at high risk of infection with some suffering burns of up to 95 per cent of their bodies.

The two people who died on Wednesday night have been confirmed as brothers Berend and Matthew Hollander, aged 16 and 13.

Their parents are among those still missing on the island.

Deputy commissioner Mike Clement told local media they have located six bodies and are still searching for two more.

He said of Friday’s recovery operation: “We will make every effort to recover the bodies ... from there, we’ll move the bodies back to the mainland. I have to reiterate the risk has not gone, the risk remains present.