In the Philippines, meanwhile, more details are emerging of the scope of the tragedy left in the storm's wake.
Around ten thousand people are feared killed, and authorities are warning the death toll could climb further.
It's being described as one of the worst natural disasters recorded in the history of the Philippines.
Kristina Kukolja has this report.
Philippines officials say Super Typhoon Haiyan destroyed about 70 to 80 per cent of structures in its path as it tore through Leyte [lay-tay] province on Friday.
They say most of the deaths appear to have been caused by the sea-water storm-surge strewn with debris that many say resembled a tsunami.
Dozens more people have been confirmed dead in other flattened towns and cities across a 600 kilometre stretch of islands through the central Philippines.
The Philippines endures a seemingly never-ending pattern of deadly typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other natural disasters.
This is because it is located along a typhoon belt and on the so-called Ring of Fire, the vast rim of the Pacific Plate, where many of Earth's earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.
However, if the feared death toll of above 10-thousand is correct, Haiyan would be the deadliest natural disaster ever recorded in the country.
Hundreds of police and soldiers have been deployed to contain looters in Tacloban (tak-LO-ban), the devastated provincial capital of Leyte.
Jhun Salazara is president of the Visayan Association of Australia, which aims to represent people from one of the three main regions of the Philippines.
Mr Salazara says the Visayan region has been the hardest hit.
"Especially in Tacloban, where there were lots of lives lost and countless homes destroyed, so the community is actually asking for help. A donation, or 'in kind' donations such as clothes, utensils, candles, et cetera."
Mr Salazara says the destruction of communications and power lines has made it difficult to find out if his family is safe.
"Being from that region, I'm very much concerned as well as my family, we are still trying to establish communications with them, at the present time we have not been successful."
The island of Samar neighbours Leyte, and officials there say 300 people were killed in the small town of Basey [bass-ee] alone.
They say another 2,000 are missing there and elsewhere on Samar, which was one of the first areas to be hit when Haiyan swept in from the Pacific Ocean.
They say power and communications are still cut and major roads remain impassable, making the delivery of relief goods difficult.
This resident says nothing is left.
"Everything's destroyed. Everything's gone. The only thing left are our clothes and my child."
Countries and organisations around the world are scrambling to get aid to the Philippines.
The United States has committed military help, as Japan, the European Commission, Britain and Germany also offered relief assistance.
The United Nations has promised its humanitarian agencies will respond rapidly to help people in need.
The U-N's Humanitarian Response Depot, operated by the World Food Programme in Malaysia, is preparing to fly in the first batch of aid.
Logistics officer Kazuhiko Yamazaki says it will help to kick off relief work in the worst-hit area, Tacloban.
"This time we dispatch two sets of mobile logistic hub, we call them. So this is a kind of emergency logistic base and when these items, components, arrive in Philippines then our staffs immediately start our relief activities using these items."
The Australian government has pledged ten million dollars in aid for typhoon-ravaged areas.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says the loss of life, the damage to property and homes has been absolutely devastating.
Ms Bishop says the money will be used for medical assistance, food and other necessities.
The Foreign Minister says she has written to the Philippines government, offering more assistance if it's needed, including the use of Australian military personnel.
"The reports are still coming in, as to how widespread the damage is. The United Nations is putting together a response team, we could be part of that - I don't know. At this stage, it's too early to say what's required and we are still to hear from the Philippines government in response to the Prime Minister's letter. But I can assure you that our ambassador and our mission in the Philippines has been in constant contact with the Philippines government and the Philippines authorities."
So far one Australian has been confirmed dead and many Australians caught up in Typhoon Haiyan have begun returning home.
Nick Graham was at a conference in Cebu when the storm struck.
He's told the ABC although he was safe in his hotel, it was still a frightening experience.
"From what I could see, it was just an enormous storm, but huge ruin in a lot of the gardens and when we were leaving on Saturday morning, there was massive destruction to the town, but not as much as Tacloban had seen."
The Philippines' biggest disaster on record occurred in 1976, when a tsunami triggered by a magnitude 7.9 earthquake devastated the Moro Gulf on the southern island of Mindanao, killing between 5,000 and 8,000 people.
The Department of Foreign Affairs says Australians concerned for the welfare of family and friends in the region should first attempt to contact them directly. If unsuccessful, they can call DFAT's 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135 (+61 2 6261 3305 from outside Australia)
By Santilla Chingaipe
