An Australian teen and her stepfather were among those killed in the New Zealand volcano eruption that left a total of six people dead and likely caused the deaths of eight more, a report said Wednesday.
The teen, identified by the Australian as 15-year-old Zoe Hosking, was with her stepfather Gavin Dallow on White Island when the volcano erupted on Monday afternoon.
Dallow’s father and sister confirmed in a statement to the newspaper that his body had been identified by authorities investigating the volcanic eruption.
Hosking’s body had not been recovered, but she’s among those presumed dead, the newspaper reported.
“We mourn the loss of Gavin and Zoe,” the Dallow family said in a statement to the Australian.
“Our hearts break at the loss of Zoe at such a young age. We know her loss will also devastate her school community and the local Girl Guides, of which she was an active member,” they added.
Six people have been confirmed dead in the explosion, while authorities are working to find bodies of eight others presumed dead.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Tuesday that at least one of the eight considered missing was among the nine Americans who were on the island when the explosion happened, according to multiple reports.