The public has been asked to remain vigilant for sightings of a 14-year-old girl who went missing three days ago from Co Louth.
An Garda Síochána has initiated a Child Rescue Ireland (CRI) alert and is seeking the public’s assistance in tracing the whereabouts of Svetlana Murphy.
The CRI system is used when gardaí launch a missing person’s inquiry for children who are missing and believed to be in serious and imminent danger.
Gardaí said: “Following investigations to date, An Garda Síochána now have serious concerns that there is an immediate and serious risk to the health or welfare of Svetlana.”
The teenager left her home on Coast Road, Blackrock, Co Louth, at about 4pm on Monday in the company of 18-year-old Nojus Maculevicius, the statement added.
The pair, who are travelling in a silver Hyundai Veloster car with registration number 132-D-13518, were seen in Newry, Co Down, about 7pm that evening.
Garda believe the vehicle was in the greater Belfast area at 5.35pm on Wednesday.
Svetlana is described as 5 foot 1 inch in height with a slim build, and has brown hair and brown eyes.
At the time she went missing, she was wearing navy tracksuit bottoms with a red and white stripe on the leg, a black zipped top and black runners.
Mr Maculevicius is described as being 6 foot in height with a slim build, and has dark brown hair and is clean shaven.
He was wearing dark grey Snickers work trousers and a black Snickers top. He may also have been wearing a khaki green hoody, and either black boots or Adidas runners.
Gardaí have urged those who see the pair not to approach them and instead immediately dial 999 or 112 or the nearest Garda station providing as much information as possible.