A five-year-old girl carried her younger sibling half a mile through -35C cold with no shoes on after they were left home alone, US authorities reported.
The little girl got scared during a power cut at her home in Venetie, northwestern Alaska, so decided to take the 18-month-old with her to a neighbour’s house, Alaska State Troopers said.
Welfare officials were called after the children were found suffering injuries as a result of the extreme conditions. It is understood they were wearing just a pair of socks and light clothes.
A woman has been arrested on suspicion of endangering the welfare of a minor, after she was found to have left the pair unattended.
The state’s department of public safety issued a report of the incident, saying: "Julie Peter, 37 years old of Venetie, was arrested on one count of endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree as a result of the investigation which revealed she deserted a five-year-old and 18-month-old in her home with no adult supervision.
"The five-year-old became scared when the power went out and carried the 18-month-old approximately half a mile while dressed in socks and light clothing to the neighbour's house.
“Both children received cold related injures. Julie Peter was booked into the Fairbanks Correctional Center on her charge.”
The tiny village of Venetie has a population of around 175 people. It is approximately 155 miles north of Fairbanks.
