All avenues are being explored in the ongoing search for two young missing children in Nova Scotia, according to police.

The Pictou County District RCMP provided an update Tuesday on the search for six-year-old Lilly and four-year-old Jack Sullivan.

It’s believed the siblings wandered away from their home on Gairloch Road in the rural community of Lansdowne Station, N.S., the morning of May 2.

The extensive search for the children involved up to 160 volunteer searchers, tens of thousands of search hours, and covered 5.5 square kilometres of heavily wooded and rural terrain. The search was scaled back last Wednesday, with police saying there was little chance the children were still alive.

“We have officers from multiple disciplines dedicated to finding Lilly and Jack, including highly trained RCMP major crime and forensic investigators,” said Staff Sgt. Curtis MacKinnon in a news release from the force.

Police say they have received more than 180 tips from the public and are following up on them.

They say they have interviewed 35 people as part of the investigation, including community members and “those closest” to the children.

The RCMP confirmed its Underwater Recovery Team searched bodies of water around Lansdowne Station last Thursday and Friday, but no evidence was found.

“We continue to work day and night on this file,” said MacKinnon. “Like all Nova Scotians, we want answers, and we want to know what happened to these children.”

Police continue to ask anyone with information on Lilly and Jack’s whereabouts to call the Pictou County District RCMP at 902-485-4333 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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

A desperate search continues for two missing children in rural Nova Scotia, with RCMP officials confirming that every possible lead and investigative method is being explored. The disappearance, now entering its fourth day, has prompted widespread concern, mobilized specialized search teams, and drawn national attention as questions mount over what happened and where the children could be.

The children—Lily Sullivan, age 6, and her younger brother Jack Sullivan, age 4—were reported missing from their family’s rural property near the community of Chester Basin late Saturday afternoon. According to police, the children had been playing in a wooded area behind their home when they were last seen around 3:30 p.m. Their mother called emergency services after searching for nearly an hour without success.

Since then, an expansive multi-agency operation has been underway. The RCMP, joined by local search and rescue teams, air support units, canine handlers, and volunteer community members, have been combing the surrounding forests, lakes, and trails. Officers have gone door to door in the area and requested that nearby residents check their security footage and outbuildings. Despite the extensive effort, no confirmed signs of the children have been found so far.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, RCMP Superintendent Lisa MacPherson addressed the growing tension and concern in the community. “We understand how agonizing this situation is for the family and for everyone watching. We are doing everything in our power to find Lily and Jack. All avenues are being explored—this includes search and rescue, missing persons protocols, and criminal investigative techniques.”

MacPherson would not confirm whether foul play is suspected but noted that the investigation is “wide open.” She added that investigators are not ruling out any possibilities, including abduction. “Until we know otherwise, we’re treating this as a search for missing children who may be in need of help. But we are also considering every scenario, including the possibility that someone may have taken them,” she said.

The children’s family has remained largely out of the public eye, but their father, Robert Sullivan, released a brief statement through RCMP media relations: “Our hearts are broken. We just want our babies home. If anyone knows anything—even the smallest thing—please come forward. We won’t stop looking.”

The RCMP has set up a dedicated tip line and encouraged the public to share any information, no matter how insignificant it might seem. Investigators are also asking people to avoid spreading unverified rumors online, which they say can hinder the search and mislead investigators.

Forensic experts have been brought in to analyze any potential evidence from the scene, including items of clothing and small footprints found near a stream close to the property. While initial findings have not confirmed that the prints belong to the children, they are being treated as part of the ongoing search. Drones equipped with infrared sensors have also been deployed in the area to assist with nighttime searches.

Community response has been strong and emotional. Hundreds of local volunteers have participated in organized search efforts since the weekend, working in shifts to cover the dense forest and remote trails. Nearby schools and churches have opened their doors to offer support services, food, and shelter to searchers and grieving neighbors.

“This is a small community, and when something like this happens, it touches everyone,” said resident Mary Clarke, who has lived in Chester Basin for more than 30 years. “You look at those children and see your own. We’re not giving up. We want answers.”

The search has not been without challenges. Heavy rainfall and rugged terrain have hampered some operations, and wildlife in the area poses additional concerns. Still, police remain optimistic that the children could be alive and in hiding, possibly disoriented or frightened.

Psychologists consulted by the RCMP have advised that children in such situations often stay close to familiar terrain, may try to find shelter, and are sometimes too scared to respond to rescuers’ calls. Based on this advice, volunteers have been instructed to search silently at times and to leave items such as snacks and familiar toys near known play areas, in the hopes that the children might return on their own.

National attention has also brought assistance from other provinces. Search-and-rescue teams from New Brunswick and Quebec have offered support, and the Canadian Armed Forces have been placed on standby should the RCMP request additional aid. Federal officials say they are monitoring the situation closely.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted on Monday: “Our thoughts are with the Sullivan family and all those helping in the search for Lily and Jack. We are hoping for their safe return and offer full support to local authorities in this critical time.”

While the search continues, the RCMP has urged people to stay away from active search zones unless part of an organized effort. “We appreciate the public’s willingness to help,” said Superintendent MacPherson. “But we need to manage this carefully to avoid contaminating potential evidence and to ensure the safety of everyone involved.”

Local businesses have begun organizing fundraising events to support the family and the volunteers. Flyers with the children’s photos have been posted in towns across Nova Scotia, and a candlelight vigil is scheduled for Wednesday evening in the town center.

Lily is described as having shoulder-length blonde hair and blue eyes, and was last seen wearing a pink hoodie with white sneakers. Jack has short brown hair and green eyes, and was wearing a blue jacket and grey sweatpants at the time of their disappearance.

As the hours pass and pressure mounts, officials remain focused on the goal. “Every searcher out there is driven by one thing,” said MacPherson. “Bringing these children home. And we’re not stopping until that happens.”

With continued public cooperation, advanced technology, and a tireless team of professionals and volunteers, the hope remains that Lily and Jack will be found safe. For their parents, and for a community now united in shared worry and determination, the search continues—every moment counted, every clue sacred.