Authorities say it could take some time to recover and identify those who've died in the Whakaari White Island eruption

Six people have now been confirmed dead from Monday's eruption.

Police say establishing their identities and nationalities will be long process.

Meanwhile, Police say they haven't begun retrieving the bodies of the eight still unaccounted for on the island - and won't until it is safe to do so.

30 patients are in six hospitals around New Zealand -- in Middlemore, Hutt Valley, Auckland City, Tauranga, Waikato and Christchurch.

Twenty five patients are critical - and the remainder stable but serious.