Search teams in Congo have found the wreckage of a plane carrying one of Australia's richest men - but there were no survivors, an official has said.
Ken Talbot.
Millionaire Ken Talbot and the entire board of directors of iron ore mining firm Sundance Resources had been missing since the airliner lost contact with ground control shortly after taking off from Cameroon on Saturday.
Six Australians, two Britons, two people from France, an American, and two crew were on the flight to a mine in Congo, according to authorities.
The twin turboprop Casa C212 plane disappeared over dense jungle as it travelled from Cameroon's capital Yaounde towards Yangadou in Congo-Brazzaville.
The thick foliage and bad weather conditions with fog had hampered search and rescue efforts.
Now Cameroonian minister Tchiroma Bakary has said: "The wreckage has been found in Congo. Unfortunately there were no survivors."
He also said around nine bodies have been found at the crash site.
The French military had earlier joined the frantic search on the Cameroon-Congo border, while Congo-Brazzaville authorities said they would call on pygmy tribesmen to join the hunt.
Residents from southern Cameroon saw explosions in the air that could have been a result of the plane crashing, officials said.
Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd had promised full diplomatic and consular assistance.
He said: "This is deeply concerning to all of us. All of our diplomatic and consular resources are being dedicated to this.
"We will leave literally no stone unturned in our efforts to try and help what is a concerning set of developments for these families."
Mr Talbot is a non-executive director of Sundance Resources and has an estimated wealth of £566m, according to BRW business magazine's latest rich list.
Ken Talbot.
Millionaire Ken Talbot and the entire board of directors of iron ore mining firm Sundance Resources had been missing since the airliner lost contact with ground control shortly after taking off from Cameroon on Saturday.
Six Australians, two Britons, two people from France, an American, and two crew were on the flight to a mine in Congo, according to authorities.
The twin turboprop Casa C212 plane disappeared over dense jungle as it travelled from Cameroon's capital Yaounde towards Yangadou in Congo-Brazzaville.
The thick foliage and bad weather conditions with fog had hampered search and rescue efforts.
Now Cameroonian minister Tchiroma Bakary has said: "The wreckage has been found in Congo. Unfortunately there were no survivors."
He also said around nine bodies have been found at the crash site.
The French military had earlier joined the frantic search on the Cameroon-Congo border, while Congo-Brazzaville authorities said they would call on pygmy tribesmen to join the hunt.
Residents from southern Cameroon saw explosions in the air that could have been a result of the plane crashing, officials said.
Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd had promised full diplomatic and consular assistance.
He said: "This is deeply concerning to all of us. All of our diplomatic and consular resources are being dedicated to this.
"We will leave literally no stone unturned in our efforts to try and help what is a concerning set of developments for these families."
Mr Talbot is a non-executive director of Sundance Resources and has an estimated wealth of £566m, according to BRW business magazine's latest rich list.