Authorities in Alabama are on the hunt for a young boy, aged five, who disappeared on Wednesday.

Johnathan Boley was last observed in the vicinity of Walker County, as reported by Sheriff Nick Smith. The sheriff explained that Johnathan’s 6-year-old sibling witnessed him crawling through a fence into a wooded area. During a search of their residence, officers discovered explosive materials, leading to the arrest of Johnathan’s father, according to WIAT.

The FBI has joined the investigation after finding evidence of past explosive activities in the surrounding forest.

“Residents have noted numerous explosions in the area,” Sheriff Smith mentioned to WBRC. “Just before our arrival, around four in the morning, there was a report of a significant blast.”

As detailed by 1819 News, helicopters equipped with thermal imaging were deployed to locate Johnathan but unfortunately did not succeed. Despite the potential dangers posed by explosives, search efforts on the ground for Johnathan resumed on Thursday.

Smith said the missing boy’s father, Jameson Boley, 40, is charged with unlawful manufacturing of a destructive device or bacteriological or biological weapon. Smith also claimed that the missing boy and his brother live with their mother in Florida, but they were with their father for five days. The boys were to return to their mother on Thursday, according to AL.com.

This story is developing. 

[Feature Photo: Alabama Law Enforcement Agency]