A search is underway for a 13-year-old girl who went missing from the Maitland area earlier today. The distressed mother of the teenager, described as approximately 165cm tall, with long wavy brown hair pulled back, was last seen wearing a knitted ribbed black hoodie, green wide-leg jeans, and carrying a small faux leather light blue backpack. Anyone with information is urged to contact authorities immediately by dialing 000.