Dawit Fantaye Taye, from Tarneit in Melbourne's west, was initially pulled alive from the wreckage of the bus, which plunged about 80 metres into a gorge north of the capital Addis Ababa on Tuesday, killing 43 people on board.

The father pleaded with his rescuers to "please call my brother" in the final moments before he died, according to the Ethiopian newspaper The Reporter.

The 32-year-old man came to Australia from Ethiopia as an asylum seeker in 2005. Neighbours say he travelled back to his native country to take part in religious celebrations.

His wife and two young children, who are aged two and four, flew to Ethiopia last night.

‘‘He was a very gentle, down-to-earth man. He was a man of integrity and he loved his family,’’ the man’s friend, Getahun Gebremariam, told The Age.

Mr Taye worked for Melbourne City Council during the week and drove taxis on weekends.

Catherine Kelly, a project coordinator for the Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project, provided accommodation for Mr Taye when he arrived in Melbourne and was devastated to hear of his death.

‘‘He was a really hardworking man, a terrific man,’’ she said. ‘‘I have been very closely in touch with him. His family are deeply grieving.’’

Neighbours said Mr Taye had travelled to Ethiopia shortly after Christmas to celebrate Timket, the Ethiopian Orthodox celebration of the Epiphany, or the baptism of Jesus.

The festival, held on January 19, is known for its ritual re-enactment of baptism.

The Melbourne man was believed to be travelling from Addis Ababa to Gondar, about 750 kilometres north of the capital, when the crash occurred about 280 kilometres into the journey.

The domestic bus, operated by Sky Bus Transport, ran off the road and plunged at least 80 metres into the gorge and burst into flames, local media reported, although one news outlet said the gorge was about 120 metres deep.

The bus was less than three years old and was in good condition, The Reporter said.

Of the 46 passengers on board, 43 died.

Survivors suffered serious injuries and burns, the African Press Agency said.

One person who came across the crash scene shortly after the impact said it was horrific.

"I was travelling from Birdar to Addis Ababa by another Sky Bus  and I saw what happened on my own eyes [sic]. It was a very horrific scene," wrote Haymanot on The Reporter website.

Another person claimed a British citizen and his mother who were holidaying in Ethiopia were among the victims.

Local police said the bus had been carrying 46 passengers, the driver and his assistant.

The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed a 32-year-old Victorian had died in an accident in the African country.

"Consular officials from the Australian embassy in Addis Ababa are seeking to contact the man's family to provide consular assistance," a DFAT spokesperson said this morning.

The crash happened on Tuesday, the department said.

With Megan Levy