A 12-year-old girl in Yilong county, Sichuan province, who had been missing for five days was found in critical condition in a cabinet at her home, West China Metropolis Daily reported on Friday.

On Sept 23, the girl - whose name is being withheld to protect her identity - allegedly left her home for school in the morning, but at noon her grandmother received a phone call from the girl's teacher saying the girl was not at school. The next day, the girl's parents flied back home and attempted to search for their daughter with the help of friends and relatives.

On the afternoon of Sept 27, the grandmother heard noises from a room on the second floor of their house and found the girl in a cabinet. She was malnourished and apparently hadn't eaten in five days.

The girl was sent to a local hospital for treatment and she did not answer any questions. Police are investigating the case.