A US woman whose two children were reported missing 15 years ago has tracked them down using Facebook.

The children's father, Faustino Utrera, took off with them in 1995 when they were aged two and three, said deputy district attorney Kurt Rowley.

The mother, from southern California, found her daughter's Facebook profile after searching for her name on the social networking site in March, Mr Rowley said.

They were traced in Florida and officials said the now 17-year-old girl and her 16-year-old brother have been placed in the custody of the state.

"You can imagine the feelings she's having, not seeing her children for so many years and knowing they've bonded with another family," Mr Rowley said about the mother. "But at the same time they're almost within her grasp."

The two teenagers are being cared for by a non-relative in Florida with whom the pair have an existing relationship, said Florida Department of Children and Families spokeswoman Elizabeth Arenas.

Police in Florida detained Utrera on an arrest warrant last month obtained by prosecutors who were contacted by the missing children's mother. He was charged with kidnapping and violating child custody orders.