The first victim of the White Island volcano eruption in New Zealand has been officially named as divers continue to search for bodies.

Police have confirmed 21-year-old Krystal Eve Browitt, from Melbourne, died while visiting the island with her family.

The veterinary student was with her father Paul and sister Stephanie, who are both in hospital with serious injuries, while her mother Marie stayed on the cruise ship they had been holidaying on.

Ms Browitt was described as a “beautiful soul” by the principal of her former school, Kolbe Catholic College, ABC News reports.

The official death toll from Monday’s eruption has risen to 15. However, divers continue to search waters near the island for the bodies of two people who are still missing.

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

Waters around the island have been contaminated by the massive eruption of rocks, lava and chemicals, causing near zero visibility for divers and described as “unique and challenging” conditions by police.

The remains of six people were recovered on Friday after a military team in gas masks and hazmat suits landed on the uninhabited island and removed the bodies in a four-hour, high-risk operation.

In a statement released on Saturday, geological agency GeoNet said there was a 35 to 50 per cent risk of an eruption that would impact beyond the volcano’s vent area in the next 24 hours.

This is a decrease from the 50 to 60 per cent risk announced on Friday.

Police divers prepare to search the waters near White Island off the coast of Whakatane, New Zealand, Saturday, 14 December 2019. (New Zealand Police via AP)

The volcano, a popular tourist destination for day-trippers, spewed ash, steam and gases over the island as it erupted on Monday.

Among the 47 people on the island at the time were Australian, US, German, Chinese, British and Malaysian tourists.

The condition of two British women, who were among those admitted to hospital, is not known.

The death toll rose to 15 on Saturday as one more person died in hospital.

The toll may rise further as more than two dozen people are still hospitalised across New Zealand and Australia, most with severe burn injuries.

There has been criticism that tourists were allowed on the island at all, given signs of increasing tremor activity in the days before the eruption.

Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s prime minister, announced on Saturday that a minute’s silence will be observed at 2.11pm local time (01.11 GMT) on 16 December – exactly one week from when the fatal eruption occurred.

She said: “Wherever you are in New Zealand, or around the world, this is a moment we can stand alongside those who have lost loved ones in this extraordinary tragedy.”