CILACAP, Indonesia: Relatives of two Australian drug smugglers on death row in Indonesia cried out in anguish as they arrived at a prison island Tuesday, in distressing scenes as they paid their final visit to the condemned men ahead of their executions.

Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, ringleaders of the so-called “Bali Nine” heroin-trafficking gang, were among eight foreign drug convicts who faced the firing squad imminently after authorities gave them formal notice of their executions.

The families of Chan and Sukumaran, who had been visiting them frequently in recent days, set out early Tuesday to pay their final visit to the men, both aged in their early 30s.

But they were unable to control their emotion as they arrived at Cilacap, the town that serves as the gateway to Nusakambangan, with members of Sukumaran’s family screaming and crying out “mercy” as they walked in a slow procession to the port.

Sukumaran’s sister Brintha wailed and called out her brother’s name, collapsing into the arms of family members who had to carry her.

Chan’s mother was shielded by family members but was clearly distraught as she passed waiting media.

Chan married his Indonesian girlfriend in a jailhouse ceremony with family and friends on Nusakambangan on Monday, his final wish before execution.

Jakarta was determined to press ahead with the executions despite a wave of global condemnation led by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

In Australia, celebrities including Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush had released a video, urging Prime Minister Tony Abbott to fly to Indonesia to help save the two men.

Australia had mounted a vigorous campaign to save its citizens, who had been on death row for almost a decade, and on Monday Foreign Minister Julie Bishop had said the executions should be halted until a corruption investigation into judges who presided over the case was complete.

However, President Joko Widodo, who is a vocal supporter of the death penalty for drug traffickers, dismissed the request.