SYDNEY • A mother and daughter have become the first Australians to be named as victims of New Zealand's volcano disaster after the family was informed by the authorities early yesterday, the media reported.

Brisbane resident Julie Richards, 47, and her daughter Jessica, 20, have been confirmed dead after Monday's explosion on White Island, family friend John Mickel said on the Sky News programme.

The death toll stands at six, with eight others presumed dead on the island, which is still too dangerous for rescuers to go to.

There were 47 people on White Island at the time of the eruption.

Twenty-four of those were from Australia, nine from the United States, five from New Zealand, four from Germany, two each from China and Britain, and one from Malaysia.

REUTERS