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How bodies are being identified after New Zealand volcano tragedy

Police and navy divers are back in the waters around New Zealand's White Island looking for a seventh body authorities believe was trapped after Monday's volcanic eruption.

But there won't be a resumption of the ground search on Saturday, as authorities consider their next steps in their retrieval operation.

Some 47 people, including 24 Australian citizens and four permanent residents, were on the island when the volcano erupted on Monday.

Eight Australians are confirmed dead, two are presumed to have died and 13 are in hospital fighting for their lives with severe burns.

Rescuers are seen on White Island following the New Zealand volcano eruption.
Police and navy divers in the waters around White Island looking for a seventh body. Source: AAP

The official toll given by NZ authorities stands at eight, with a presumptive toll of 16.

The six bodies recovered and airlifted off White Island are now in Auckland in the care of the coroner.

The lengthy and challenging disaster victim identification (DVI) process has been outlined by New Zealand police.

Phase one: Scene

The victim's body is examined and documented on site, then taken to the mortuary.

Families of victims of the White Island eruption embrace as they arrive back to the Whakatane wharf following a blessing at sea ahead of the recovery operation off the coast of Whakatane New Zealand, Friday, Dec. 13, 2019. A team of eight New Zealand military specialists landed on White Island early Friday to retrieve the bodies of victims after the Dec. 9 eruption. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Eight Australians have been confirmed dead in the tragedy. Source: AAP

Phase two: Mortuary

The body is examined in detail by a pathologist, forensic dentist, fingerprint officer and Police DVI team.
Personal effects (such as jewellery, clothing) are photographed, then collected, examined, cleaned, re-photographed and secured.

Phase three: Ante-mortem information retrieved

Police gather information about possible victims, such as descriptions of appearance, clothing, jewellery, photographs; medical and dental records, X-rays; fingerprints, from objects or official records (commonly collected by some overseas agencies); and DNA samples, such as from a hairbrush, toothbrush or blood sample.

Plumes of smoke seen from the volcano on White Island following the New Zealand eruption.
Some 47 people, including 24 Australian citizens and four permanent residents, were on the island when the volcano erupted. Source: AAP

Phase four: Reconciliation

Information from post-mortem and ante-mortem phases are brought together to find a match.

At an identification hearing, the coroner is presented evidence of the match by fingerprint, dentistry, DNA and police DVI experts and decides if identification has been established.

Family and/or foreign authorities are advised, then media.

Phase five: Debrief

People involved in the DVI process keep each other updated throughout all stages.

Support and welfare is made available to staff including stress and grief counsellors, chaplains, Victim Support and police welfare officers.

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