Renewed ground and air search efforts for Lilly and Jack Sullivan are planned in Lansdowne Station, N.S., this weekend.

Lilly, six, and Jack, four, were last seen at their Gairloch Road home on May 2. They are believed to have wandered away from their rural residence.

An extensive search for the siblings that involved 160 volunteers and covered 5.5 square kilometres turned up no sign of the children.

Last week police scaled back search efforts, saying their was little chance the siblings were still alive.

According to an RCMP news release, ground and air search efforts are planned for Saturday. Searchers will focus on specific areas around Gairloch Road.

The public is asked to avoid the search area.

The RCMP’s underwater recovery team looked in bodies of water around Lansdowne Station on May 8 and 9, but did not uncover any evidence.

Jack and Lilly Sullivan who went missing near their home in Pictou County Friday are pictured.

Search efforts are being intensified in the rural Nova Scotia community of Chester Basin as authorities renew both ground and aerial operations in the ongoing search for two young children who went missing over the weekend. Six-year-old Lily Sullivan and her four-year-old brother Jack were last seen on Saturday afternoon playing near the wooded area behind their family’s home. Their disappearance has triggered one of the most extensive search operations the region has seen in recent years.

The renewed search, which enters its sixth day today, is expected to involve over 120 personnel, including RCMP officers, local search and rescue teams, dog units, dive teams, and aerial support units equipped with advanced imaging technology. Authorities have committed to expanding the radius of the search to cover areas that were previously deemed low probability, as well as re-examining areas already covered in case of overlooked clues.

Superintendent Lisa MacPherson of the RCMP addressed reporters at the mobile command unit established on the outskirts of the forest where the children were last seen. She stated that while no definitive signs of Lily or Jack have been found, there remains strong belief that the children could be located with continued and coordinated effort. “We are not giving up. We are continuously reviewing our strategies and incorporating expert advice. These children are at the heart of our mission, and we are focused on bringing them home safely.”

The terrain around Chester Basin, characterized by dense woodland, rocky clearings, and swampy lowlands, presents significant challenges for search teams. In addition to using trained searchers and dogs, authorities are employing drones with thermal imaging capabilities, which can detect heat signatures even in heavy foliage. Helicopters are also conducting aerial sweeps of the area, particularly in locations that are difficult to access on foot.

Weather conditions have varied throughout the search. Rain and dropping nighttime temperatures have increased the urgency of the mission. Officials say they are factoring in survival models for children in wilderness environments, with specialists advising on how young children might behave when frightened or lost. Searchers are also using audio playbacks of familiar voices and sounds in hopes of drawing the children out of hiding, if they are conscious and mobile.

Family members of the missing children have remained close to the search command post and continue to assist investigators and volunteers in whatever ways they can. Amanda Sullivan, the children’s mother, issued a public plea on Tuesday, asking anyone with information, no matter how small, to come forward. “We are devastated, but we still believe Lily and Jack are out there. Please, if you saw anything unusual, or anyone acting strangely, tell the police.”

The investigation remains focused on two primary avenues: a large-scale search and rescue operation, and a parallel criminal investigation. RCMP officials say they are reviewing hours of security and dashcam footage from homes and roads in the area. They have interviewed more than 60 individuals and have not ruled out any possibilities, including that the children may have been abducted.

Community support has been overwhelming. Volunteers have flooded the area, offering meals, supplies, and assistance to search teams. Local businesses have donated food and equipment, and schools have held prayer circles and class discussions to support the Sullivan family. Flyers bearing the children’s faces are posted in nearly every store window and shared widely across social media platforms.

While authorities stress the importance of optimism and community cooperation, they have also issued a warning to avoid spreading unverified information online. Misinformation has the potential to divert valuable resources or stir panic, according to RCMP spokesperson Sergeant Andrew Desroches. “We appreciate the public’s support, but we urge everyone to rely on official sources for updates. False reports have already created confusion and hindered some efforts.”

As part of today’s renewed search strategy, dive teams will be examining nearby water bodies using sonar and underwater drones. Lakes, streams, and wells within a 10-kilometer radius are being checked thoroughly, and specialists are assisting with terrain analysis to identify areas where children might seek shelter or become trapped.

Psychologists and child behavior experts have provided briefings to search teams to help them understand the likely behavior patterns of children under duress. It’s believed that Jack, the younger child, may be less likely to move far from his older sister, while Lily may attempt to find help if she feels they are in danger. This dynamic is influencing how search grids are being laid out and how communications are structured in the field.

Provincial officials, including Premier Tim Houston, have expressed their support for the ongoing efforts. In a statement Wednesday, Houston said, “Our thoughts are with the Sullivan family and all those working day and night to find Lily and Jack. We will not stop until every possible effort has been exhausted.”

The missing children’s extended family have come from across Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to assist with the search. Many have taken on supportive roles—helping to feed volunteers, distribute flyers, and keep lines of communication open with the RCMP and media.

At the local elementary school where Lily is a student, teachers and counselors have set up a support center for classmates who are struggling with the situation. Principal Dana Ward said that children have been encouraged to express their feelings through drawings, letters, and conversations. “This is a community that cares deeply for its children. We are doing everything we can to support our students while holding onto hope.”

As the sun rises on another day, searchers remain resolute. Teams gathered early this morning for briefings before heading back into the woods, equipped with updated maps, radios, and safety gear. Each team is assigned a specific sector, and their movements are tracked digitally to ensure no area is missed. Any item found—such as clothing, footprints, or disturbed vegetation—is carefully logged and analyzed.

Authorities stress that while the absence of definitive signs is disheartening, it is not cause for despair. Cases exist where young children have been found alive days after going missing, often having survived by instinctively finding shelter or drinking from natural water sources. The goal, officials say, is to act quickly, thoroughly, and with hope.

For now, the people of Chester Basin wait—watching the helicopters overhead, following police updates, and checking their own backyards one more time. With the search effort renewed and expanded, everyone involved remains focused on one goal: bringing Lily and Jack home.