Six people were killed Monday when the small plane they were on board crashed while carrying aid to Chilean city Concepcion, which was hit hard by the 8.8-magnitude earthquake early Saturday, local officials said.

The Piper PA 31 crashed at 12:28 p.m. local time (1528 GMT) on its way from the Chilean capital of Santiago to the Tome area near Concepcion.

The plane was piloted by Marcelo Ruiz, who was accompanied by five members of the University of San Sebastian.

Among the passengers there were outstanding politicians, like former president of the ultra right-wing Independent Democratic Union Youth, Mario Desbordes and a high officer of the Christian Democracy Luis Ernesto Videla.

The death toll from the devastating earthquake has reached 723, the Chilean government said on Monday.

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said on Sunday night that the catastrophe is "enormous" and the death toll will continue to grow.