More than 100 searchers scour Pictou County for missing children

More than 100 searchers are scouring an area in Pictou County for 6-year-old Lily Sullivan and 4-year-old Jack Sullivan.

The siblings were last seen Friday morning on Gairloch Road in Lansdowne Station, about 20 kilometres southwest of New Glasgow.

Search and rescue teams along with volunteers continued to look for the children on Saturday. Two helicopters and a drone are also part of the search.

Police say the children are believed to have wandered away from a home in the area.

The RCMP are asking people to stay away from the area while the search continues.

"It's a huge wooded area with lots of potential, so we're just keeping all avenues open and ensuring we're covering off the area with a very structured search," said RCMP Cpl. Sally Rice.

Most of the people looking for the children Saturday are search and rescue volunteers, said Rice.

Rice said it is likely the children haven't been alone in a wooded area before.

"So, there are going to be lots of challenges for those kids," she said. "I would say that obviously any children would have challenges, especially in this terrain, right? It's challenging enough for our people that we have on the ground here."

She said the children may be afraid of adults. They may not understand the noises related to the search, like helicopters flying overhead.

"They could have an issue with that and could be … in a position or scared to come out, so that is also a concern."

She said that people are being asked to give searchers the space to do their work but "are obviously hoping people are checking their yards, checking any properties if they are in the area of their own personal properties."

The search will continue until something happens "to change the direction."

"Right now, it's an active search and it will continue until we have information to dictate otherwise," she said.

'Survivability's still good'

Amy Hansen is the on-site search and rescue manager and a member of the Colchester Ground Search and Rescue team, one of multiple agencies called in to assist with the search.

In an interview Saturday afternoon, she said her team is covering as much ground as possible despite rough terrain.

"I can't say enough for the people that are here," she said. "They are pushing through everything we ask them to."

She remains optimistic the children will be found.

"It was wet last night, but it wasn't super cold, so if they're moving or hunkered down somewhere, which is what children tend to do," she said. "Survivability's still good. Everyone's still very hopeful that we're gonna find them." 

There is no evidence the children were abducted, so no Amber Alert was issued, according to police. But the RCMP issued a vulnerable missing persons alert for Antigonish, Colchester and Pictou counties late Saturday afternoon.

Lily has shoulder-length light brown hair with bangs. RCMP said she might be wearing a pink sweater, pink pants and pink boots. Jack has short blondish hair. He was wearing blue dinosaur boots. 

In a post to X on Saturday, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said "first responders and volunteers are working tirelessly during this 24/7 operation."