Kaliyah Coa is still missing since police were first alerted of her entering the water close to Barge House Causeway, near London City Airport, on March 31 at 1.23pm.
She had been playing during a school inset day at the time, police have said.
Emergency service crews attended and conducted a large-scale search in an effort to locate her, but the search later scaled down.
However, the Metropolitan Police says that it is committed to finding Kaliyah as the search enters the fifth day.
Residents were alerted to a girl entering the River Thames after her friends were heard shouting and screaming.
Shaleen Rajaendram, 59, who lives next to Kerry Benadjaoud on Barge House Road near where the incident occurred, told the PA news agency: “I heard upstairs a guy was screaming ‘wait there, wait, the police is coming’.”
The man was standing on a balcony in a flat block overlooking the river.
Ms Rajaendram said he later told her he had been alerted by the children “shouting, screaming”.
The mum continued: “Then I saw suddenly two kids were coming out to the top of the bridge, I said ‘what happened?’
“Then they said ‘one of my friends was playing in the water, one of my friends has gone into the water and she’s gone underneath and we can’t find her’.”
The girl returned home while the boy showed Ms Rajaendram where it took place.
She then called Ms Benadjaoud who went to collect a life ring.
“The water is very high”, Ms Rajaendram said, adding that the causeway that appeared to be covered in moss was very slippery.
A local resident Naomi Howard told ITV News that there is no safety for children who want to go paddling.
She noted the lack of signs on the slippery slipway to warn children against entering.
Ms Howard added: “I’m very upset. Even though it’s not my child, it could have been my child.
“There’s no safety for the children. If they did want to come paddling down here there’s no safety.”
Chief Superintendent Dan Card, local policing commander for north east London, said: “Our specialist officers are supporting Kaliyah’s family through this deeply upsetting time and our thoughts go out to all those impacted by what has happened.
“We are committed to finding Kaliyah and are working with partners to conduct a thorough search over a wide area – utilising drone technology and boats.
“I’d like to thank the members of public, our first responding officers, and colleagues from other emergency services, as they responded rapidly to carry out a large-scale search during a highly pressurised and distressing time.
“Equally we appreciate this has affected the wider community who have been extremely supportive.
“You will see extra officers in the area during the coming days – if you have any concerns then please speak to them.”
