At least 16 people have died following the New Zealand volcano eruption, police have said.

The death toll rose after police said a 16th victim died at Sydney’s Concord Hospital, one of several hospitals in Australia which treated survivors for severe burns.

Most of those who were killed after the White Island volcano erupted earlier this week were tourists.

Divers failed to locate the bodies of two victims off the island but New Zealand Police national operations commander John Tims said the search will continue.

“We have always anticipated recovering all bodies from the island, and we remain deeply committed to that goal, to allow families some closure,” he said. “We are now debriefing, reassessing and coming up with a new plan going forward.”

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

The search teams wore heavy protective clothing due to the toxic air and gases present on the island as a result of the eruption.

Their breathing apparatus allowed them to search for only 75 minutes.

They were unable to locate either body and returned to the mainland where they underwent decontamination.​

Mr Tims said the process of identifying victims and releasing bodies to their loved ones was ongoing in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city.

“We will continue to release the names of those who have died as soon as we are able to,” he said.

Five victims have so far been named, four of whom are Australians.

Teenager Zoe Hoskin and her stepfather Gavin Dallow, both from Adelaide, were confirmed as dead. Lisa Dallow, Zoe’s mother, is being treated for severe burns.

Anthony Langford, from Sydney, has also been confirmed dead. He was travelling with his wife Kristine Langford and their children Jesse and Winona.

Jesse survived the eruption and was identified in a New Zealand hospital on Tuesday evening. His mother and sister are still unaccounted for.

The fourth person has been identified as New Zealand resident Tipene Maangi, 24.

Two British women were among those admitted to hospital in New Zealand after the volcano erupted.

All 13 Australians who suffered burns were transported to hospitals around Australia for treatment, at least eight of whom are reported to be in a critical condition.

Navy and police divers are expected to resume the search of waters around the island over the weekend.