Bodies in surfers' van had gunshot wounds

A Mexican official says two bodies found in a burnt-out van belonging to missing Australians Dean Lucas and Adam Coleman had gunshot wounds, suggesting the victims were killed by gunfire before being set on fire.

The bodies have not been positively identified as those of the Australian surfers who went missing two weeks ago in Mexico's violence-plagued Sinaloa state.

DNA tests are planned. The van's identification numbers match a van owned by Mr Coleman.

The Mexican official, who was not authorised to be quoted by name, confirmed the gunshot wounds on Thursday and said it was a case of homicide.

The men had driven to Mexico from Edmonton, Alberta, and went missing on November 20 while travelling to the city of Guadalajara to visit Mr Coleman's girlfriend.