16 people have died after the New Zealand White Island /Whakaari volcano eruption, according to the AP.

Doctors  are importing skin to help treat burn victims.

According to the BBC, medical authorities say there are 29 people in intensive care and burn units. 

22 are in critical condition because of their burns.

BBC reports, five to 10 people a year, donate skin in New Zealand, which isn’t enough for what doctors need. 

So they are asking for skin from U.S. tissue banks. 

Each adult has about two sq m (22 sq ft) of skin and doctors need an additional 1.2 million sq cm (1,300 sq ft) for ongoing patient treatment.

Skin helps healing, stop infections and reduces scarring and pain for burn victims.

Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pete Watson, from New Zealand's National Burns Unit tells the BBC, the burns from the volcano eruption are “more complex because of the gases and chemicals involved.

On Monday, the White Island volcano in New Zealand erupted. Tremor activity is keeping authorities from recovering eight bodies they believe are still on the island.