In the 24 hours leading up to 7am this morning, 109,000 lightning strikes were recorded over New Zealand and our surrounding waters, with 18,000 over the land.

Previously our records had only seen 44,000 strikes over both land and sea.

At least five people are dead after Whakaari/White Island erupted today, and "a number" of people are still unaccounted for.

National Operation Commander Deputy Commissioner John Tims told a press conference at 9.10pm that New Zealanders and tourists are involved.

A number of the tourists are from the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship, but police cannot confirm nationalities.

Police do not know if there are people on the island alive tonight. The five people dead are people who were taken off the island today. The other 18 rescued all have injuries to some degree.

Burn centers across New Zealand are full to capacity as more than two dozen victims are being treated for horrific wounds suffered in a volcanic eruption on White Island, leaving many with burns on over 70 percent of their bodies.

At least 27 of the 31 people injured in the volcanic blast that rocked the island on Monday suffered severe burns covering over two-thirds of their skin, the government said in a statement, noting the possibility that some of the injured will not survive.

"All our burns units are full to capacity. Our plastic surgeons, hospital, anesthetists are doing their best to treat the many who have sustained injuries," said acting Ministry of Health adviser Dr Pete Watson. "Twenty-seven of the 31 have suffered greater than 71 percent body surface burns."

With five already confirmed killed, police said eight people are still missing and likely did not make it, leaving only those who were able to flee immediately among the survivors.

"I would strongly suggest that there is no one that has survived on the island," New Zealand Deputy Commissioner John Tims told reporters, adding: "We are doing everything we can to get back to that island."

Tims also noted that a criminal probe had been opened into the disaster, focused on the "circumstances of death and injuries on White Island," which he said would be carried out alongside a separate investigation by regulatory agency WorkSafe.