NEW BATAAN, The Philippines -- Hundreds of thousands of survivors jammed shelters Friday (December 7th), as the death toll from Tuesday's Typhoon Bopha soared to at least 540, AFP reported.

Hundreds more remain missing in the wake of the country's deadliest natural disaster of the year. The southern island of Mindanao bore the brunt of the tragedy. President Benigno Aquino visited the town of New Bataan, arriving by helicopter, as the area was essentially obliterated by Bopha’s winds, rains, flooding and mudslides. Interior Secretary Mar Roxas told reporters more rescue workers, equipment and sniffer dogs are on the way, according to AFP.