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.

As the sun rose over the rural community of Chester Basin in Nova Scotia this morning, search crews prepared to resume their exhaustive efforts to locate two missing siblings whose disappearance has gripped the province and sparked a growing sense of urgency among residents and officials alike.

The children, Lily Sullivan, age 6, and her brother Jack, age 4, were last seen Saturday afternoon playing near a wooded area behind their family’s home. Despite four days of intensive efforts on land and from the air, there has been no confirmed sighting of the children, and no clear indication of what may have happened. With hope still alive but time pressing forward, search operations have been renewed with additional resources, personnel, and strategic adjustments.

Led by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in partnership with provincial search and rescue teams, today’s efforts will include more than 100 trained searchers, canine units, drone surveillance, and aerial support from helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. A command post has been re-established at the edge of the forest, and search patterns are being refined based on terrain analysis, weather forecasts, and potential behavioral profiles developed with the help of child psychology consultants.

Superintendent Lisa MacPherson of the RCMP confirmed in a morning briefing that the search radius has been expanded to include areas previously deemed low-risk. “As time passes, we must adapt our assumptions. Children, especially young ones, may wander in unpredictable ways. We are leaving no area unchecked.”

MacPherson emphasized that ground crews will continue their grid searches, carefully combing through dense woodland, marshy clearings, and abandoned structures. Meanwhile, aerial teams will focus on scanning for heat signatures using thermal imaging technology, especially in shaded or heavily wooded zones where visibility is limited from the ground.

The weather, which has fluctuated between chilly nights and damp, overcast days, presents challenges for the crews and risks for the children, if they are still exposed to the elements. Emergency responders have been briefed on the possibility of hypothermia and have been trained to look for signs of temporary shelters, such as disturbed vegetation or items that may have been used as cover.

Adding to the complexity of the search is the rugged and varied topography of the Chester Basin region, which features thick forest, steep inclines, and numerous small lakes and rivers. Water rescue specialists have been brought in to assist with searches along the riverbanks and around ponds, using sonar equipment and underwater drones where visibility is too low for divers.

Despite the mounting pressure, there remains hope among rescuers and the community that the children are alive. Historical data shows that young children in wilderness environments have, in some cases, survived for several days by instinctively seeking shelter or water. Officials continue to stress that the public should avoid assuming the worst and instead focus on constructive efforts to assist in the search.

Volunteers from across Nova Scotia continue to arrive, offering food, logistical support, and assistance with mapping or supply runs. Local restaurants and community centers have donated meals and resources, while schools in the area have organized letter-writing campaigns and prayer vigils to support the Sullivan family and the first responders.

In a rare public appearance late Tuesday, the children’s mother, Amanda Sullivan, addressed the media, her voice trembling but resolute. “We know Lily and Jack are strong. We are grateful to everyone searching, and we beg anyone with even the smallest piece of information to come forward. We need them home.”

The RCMP has confirmed that they are continuing to pursue every investigative lead alongside the search efforts. Officers are reviewing security footage from homes and businesses as far as 30 kilometers away and have interviewed more than 50 individuals, including neighbors, hikers, and local workers who may have been in the area during the time of the disappearance.

Authorities say they are still treating the case as a missing persons investigation, but they have not ruled out other possibilities. RCMP spokesperson Sergeant Andrew Desroches noted that investigators are keeping open minds and remain prepared to shift the focus of the operation if new evidence emerges. “We have no definitive signs of abduction or foul play, but we can’t exclude those scenarios. That’s why we’re maintaining both search and investigative tracks.”

Some in the community have expressed concern about a lack of updates, but police have explained that protecting the integrity of the investigation is paramount. Tips from the public are still being reviewed, with the RCMP emphasizing that even information that may seem minor—such as a strange vehicle sighting or an unfamiliar person in the area—could be vital.

Online, the case has gained widespread attention, with thousands sharing images of the missing children across platforms. National media outlets have picked up the story, prompting expressions of support from across Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted on Tuesday, offering solidarity to the family and commending search teams for their tireless work.

At the search command post, morale remains cautiously hopeful. Searcher teams begin their day with a detailed briefing and coordinate via radio and GPS to ensure comprehensive coverage of assigned zones. Each discovery, even if it’s a piece of clothing or a trail of small footprints, is carefully logged and investigated.

The community of Chester Basin, though shaken, remains united. Churches have opened their doors for quiet reflection, and posters bearing the children’s photos are visible in nearly every storefront. The children’s school has also offered counseling to classmates and faculty, acknowledging the emotional toll the situation has taken on young students who are struggling to understand why their friends have vanished.

As daylight hours grow longer, the renewed search effort aims to take advantage of every possible opportunity. RCMP officials have stressed that there is no time limit on the operation. “We will search for as long as it takes,” Superintendent MacPherson said. “We owe that to Lily and Jack, and to every parent watching this unfold with a heavy heart.”

For the Sullivan family, each passing hour brings both anguish and hope. Their rural home, now surrounded by emergency vehicles and volunteers, has become a symbol of a community’s resolve and a nation’s attention. Amid the sorrow, there remains the possibility that the next hour could bring the breakthrough everyone is praying for.

Until then, the search continues—on the ground, in the air, and in the hearts of everyone waiting for a miracle.