An online video of a 92-year-old woman kept inside a pigpen by her son and daughter-in-law in Guangxi, China, has caused massive outrage across the Internet, with netizens condemning the inhumane act.

The video, which has gone viral on Chinese social media, showed the old lady, surnamed Yang, living behind padlocked firm bars. She was locked in a room that is only around 10 sqm. small and contained a wooden block covered with quilt to serve as her bed.

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The online community expressed anger on China's Twitter-like Weibo and trended the hashtag #92YearOldKeptinPigSty.

Asia One reported that soon after the video was posted, local officials immediately sent a rescue team to assist the old lady.

"She was locked up when we found her," Huang Huaming, the deputy chief of Jinya town, said. "Her son and daughter-in-law were at home at that time."

The couple defended that the old lady voluntarily moved herself to the pig sty.

"Yang has suffered from incontinence for years," her son said. "She asked to move into the room in fear she would contaminate the house."

The woman was rushed to a local hospital, and after thorough check-ups, she was deemed "fragile, but fit."

 A statement later issued by local police denied the alleged "facts" that were claimed in the video.

"The room wasn't fenced until a couple of days ago, so she hasn't been locked up for years," a local police chief, surnamed Wu, said.

Wu, however, said that her apparent decision to stay in the room willingly was still in question, saying that at her old age, she might not be in her best state of mind.

The Strait Times reported that such incidents have been a common feature in China. Last November, a video posted online portrayed a 62-year-old man from Henan province who was collecting rubbish and eating leftovers. He was quoted as to have said that he did not want to disturb his middle-aged daughter.

Tagschina, Guangxi, Old woman