JEDDAH: Two 12-year-old girls who had gone missing from their schools in Makkah on Sunday afternoon were found in good health and condition on Tuesday morning.

The girls, studying in elementary school No. 51 were handed over to the Makkah police to complete an investigation into their disappearance, local media reported, quoting sources.

“The relatives of both the girls received a call from the authorities informing them about their good condition,” the sources said.

The girls had reportedly left the school to buy some items from a nearby shop. They had left their bags behind.

The father of one of the missing girls has blamed the school administration and guards for allowing the students to leave the school.

The father said he had been picking the girl up and dropping her off to school regularly and that he was shocked on Sunday afternoon to find her missing.

He said there are no personal or family issues that might have led his daughter to leave the school in such a manner.

The brother of the other student was also quoted as saying that the girl does not suffer from any health or psychological problems. “She left the school premises to buy something from the store, as reported by her fellow students,” he added.

Abdulaziz Al-Thaqafi, director of educational media at the Department of Education in Makkah, said: “The incident took place outside the school, and the authorities concerned are following up on the matter.”