There is a collective sigh of relief after four young children who were reported missing from the Townhouse Megastore compound in St. John’s on Friday were found safe at Ffryes Beach.

The disappearance of the children, all believed to be eight years old or younger, had sparked significant concern as police launched an urgent search to locate them.

Antigua.news understands that the children, had initially been inside a vehicle parked on the Townhouse Megastore compound.

Their aunt reportedly left them in the vehicle while she went to Community First. When she returned, the children were nowhere to be found, prompting fears for their safety.

Police were immediately contacted, and a search operation was launched, including the use of a drone.

Antigua.news has since confirmed that the children were located at Ffryes Beach, bringing an end to the anxious search and tremendous relief to their family and members of the public who had become concerned about their whereabouts.

Information reaching Antigua.news indicates that the children had been taken to the beach.

The circumstances surrounding how they came to be at Ffryes Beach, some distance from where they were initially reported missing, are not immediately clear.

The most important development, however, is that all four children have been found safe.

Further details are expected as authorities clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident.