The Australian Embassy in Manila has expressed its sympathies with the families of two of its nationals who were onboard the Cessna 340 plane that crashed into the slopes of Mayon Volcano.
Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu said the embassy is now aware of their plight and its "thoughts are with the families, friends and loved ones of all those affected."
"The Australian Embassy is in contact with local authorities and DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) is providing consular assistance to the families of the two Australians," she added.
She also thanked the Philippine authorities for their "tireless efforts" in the retrieval and search and rescue operations.
On Monday, rescuers struggled to reach the slopes of Mayon Volcano after the wreckage of the missing plane was found a day before, with the fate of those on board—the pilot, a mechanic, and two Australians—still unconfirmed.
The crash site was located at the upper slope of Mayon, almost 32 hours after the plane went missing after taking off from the Bicol International Airport.