A woman who died in the Ravenshoe cafe explosion will be remembered as "a beautiful mother" and for her generous spirit, a close friend says.
Mother-of-two Nicole Dempsey was pronounced dead just before 5am today (local time) at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital's intensive care burns unit.
Ms Dempsey was one of 20 people injured when a car ploughed into a gas bottle sparking an explosion at the Serves You Right Cafe at Ravenshoe, southwest of Cairns, on Tuesday.
Seven people remain in a critical condition at hospitals across the state.
Close friend, Nicola Baker, says the tightly-knit community has been devastated by Ms Dempsey's death.
"I'm heartbroken," Ms Baker told AAP.
"You can't explain this kind of grief to someone who hasn't been through something like this."
Ms Baker said as soon as she heard of the incident, she rushed to the cafe to find her friend and nursed her while emergency crews worked amid the chaos around them.
"I went looking for her and I found her and I was with her for a good period," she said.
Ms Dempsey was later airlifted to Brisbane with burns to 80 per cent of her body.
Ms Baker said Ms Dempsey, who she's been friends with since childhood, was loved by all who knew her.
"She was a funny, kind and generous person who was my friend," Ms Baker said through tears.
"She was a beautiful mother and a beautiful wife."
Ms Dempsey, who ran a fudge shop, was the daughter of the cafe's owners, who were holidaying in Europe when the incident occurred.
Ms Baker said Ms Dempsey's family would be devastated and urged the media to respect their privacy.
Ms Baker said when she and her son Jed met actor Johnny Depp they took the opportunity to give the Hollywood star some of Ms Dempsey's fudge.
"There's one thing that Nic didn't tell anybody and that is that Johnny Depp ate some of her fudge," Ms Baker said.
Ms Baker said there were several donation campaigns set up for victims of the Ravenshoe incident - the state's biggest ever burns disaster - and urged people to contribute.
Acting Premier Jackie Trad said the government's thoughts were with Ms Dempsey's family and those who remained in hospital.
"This was a young woman doing her job and it's just a tragic freak accident," Ms Trad told ABC radio.
"For all of those people throughout Queensland hospitals - our prayers and thoughts are with all of them."
Deputy opposition leader John-Paul Langbroek also extended condolences to Ms Dempsey's family, friends and other victims, while also praising paramedics and hospital staff.
"It's been a tragic incident and we just want to pass on our condolences," he said.
