At least six people have been confirmed dead after White Island erupted on Monday.
Eight more people are missing, presumed dead, and 30 people are injured.
On Wednesday police declared the tragedy a "mass fatality incident".
While police haven't publicly confirmed the names of those who died, the families of many of the victims have spoken to media.
Police have confirmed that 47 people visited Whakaari on Monday, with the visitors coming from seven different countries.
This is what we know so far:
Confirmed deceased
Hayden Marshall-Inman
A tour guide for White Island Tours, Marshall-Inman was on the island when it erupted.
Speaking to Newshub, Marshall-Inman's brother, Mark Inman, said his brother would "do anything for anyone".
"He was a genuine, all-around good guy," Inman said.
Former mayor of Whakatane Tony Bonne said he knew Marshall-Inman personally and that his death has come as a shock to the community.
"[He was] full of life, loved fishing, loved diving," Bonne said.
The death of a Malaysian tourist was also confirmed by the Malaysian Embassy.
The missing
Tipene Maangi
Tour guide Tipene Maangi, 24, is believed to have been on White Island when the volcano erupted.
Maangi's cousin, Anihera Paku, told Newshub he wasn't supposed to be working on Monday, but was called in to pick up an extra shift and hasn't been heard from since.
Paku says Maangi is the "laugh of the crowd".
"He's a really good people person, sociable, you could be having a really bad day and here comes Tipene and his cheeky remarks, just to brighten your day."
She said his whanau are now praying for his return.
"We as a family are heartbroken," she said.
The Langford family
Also missing are Anthony and Kristine Langford and their daughter Winona, from Sydney.
Marist College North Shore confirmed to ABC News in Australia that the family were visiting White Island as part of their cruise ship trip. Since then, the family has not been heard from, but Anthony's brother, Rodney, told 7 News he still holds out hope the family are alive.
"I'm hoping that somebody knows anything, has seen my brother, knows my brother or has seen his wife or their kids," he said.
Nineteen-year-old Jesse Langford was also with his parents and sister. On Wednesday, 7 News reported that Jesse was found alive, though the extent of his injuries is not known.
Julie and Jessica Richards
Mother and daughter Julie and Jessica Richards, from Brisbane, remain unaccounted for.
Julie's sister, Barbara Whitehead, told ABC that relatives were "overwhelmed" from a lack of details surrounding the whereabouts of their family members.
Whitehead said she called seven hospitals around New Zealand trying to find information.
"We've rung the hospital; we've rung the cruise line; we've rung the New Zealand police hotline and nobody can tell us anything," Whitehead told ABC.
Julie, 47, and Jessica, 20, were scheduled to return home to Australia in the weekend.
Gavin Dallow and Zoe Hosking
Gavin Dallow, 53, was on the cruise ship with his wife Lisa Dallow, 48, and stepdaughter Zoe Hosking, 15. Lisa was initially listed as missing but was later reported to be in hospital in Hamilton with severe burns.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Dallow family said they were praying for the safe return of everyone's loved ones.
"We feel for all the families who are going through the same frustration and fear for loved ones as we are," the family said.
The injured
Lisa Hosking
Lisa Hosking is alive and in a hospital in Hamilton, a family spokesperson confirmed to ABC.
The spokesperson said she had suffered severe burns.
Jesse Langford
Jesse Langford, 19, was unaccounted for until Wednesday afternoon when 7 News reported he was still alive.
The extent of his injuries is unknown.
Jason Griffiths
Thirty-three-year-old Jason Griffiths, from Sydney, is reported to be in hospital being treated for serious burns. It is understood he was visiting White Island with his friends Karla Mathews and Richard Elzer, who remain missing. According to 9 News, Griffiths' mother was flying to New Zealand to be by her son's side in hospital.
Matthew and Lauren Urey
Matthew, 36, and Lauren Urey, 32, were travelling on the cruise ship Ovation of the Seas on their honeymoon.
Lauren's mother, Barbara Barham, told The Washington Post she found out about the eruption from a late-night phone call from the cruise ship company asking if she had heard from her daughter.
She then got a call from the mother of her son-in-law saying the newlyweds were in hospital with severe burns.
She said she was "livid" that tourists were allowed on the island despite the risk of eruption.
Jake Milbank
Tour guide Jake Milbank received burns on 80 percent of his body in the eruption.
A Givealittle page set up for him says he is a "passionate, energetic young man who has a love for the ocean".
"He now has a long journey to recovery, and anything raised on this page will be used to help the family financially to ensure they can be by his side all the way," the page said.
He is currently in Auckland's Middlemore Hospital surrounded by his family.
