Woman Kills Neighbour In Bizarre Accident, Tries To Burn Cockroach, Sets Entire Apartment On Fire In South Korea

South Korea: A mother lost her life while rescuing her baby from an apartment fire in Osan, after a neighbor attempted to kill a cockroach using a makeshift flamethrower, authorities said. Police reported that the fire began when a woman in her 20s, living on the second floor, sprayed a flammable substance on a cockroach and ignited it with a lighter. The resulting flames quickly spread to a nearby bed and piles of trash, engulfing her apartment.

Details Of Suspect, Victim

The incident occurred at approximately 5:35 a.m. on Monday in the city south of Seoul, in Gyeonggi province. Fire spread rapidly through the building’s fifth floor, filling the stairways with thick smoke, according to police.

The suspect, whose name has not been released, will face charges of negligence resulting in death.

Also Read: Trump Issues Stern Warning To Hamas, Says ‘If They Don’t Behave, We Will Eradicate Them…’

The victim, a Chinese woman in her 30s, lived in the building with her husband and their two-month-old baby. As flames engulfed their apartment, the couple called for help from a window, passing their infant to a neighbor in a nearby building less than a meter away.

While the husband managed to climb to safety, the mother fell while attempting to follow him. She was rushed to Ajou University Hospital but succumbed to her injuries five hours later. The baby survived unharmed.

Victim Died of Smoke Inhalation

Firefighters extinguished the fire within about 40 minutes. Eight other residents were treated for smoke inhalation. Investigators believe the couple tried to escape through a window after finding the corridor blocked by smoke and flames.

The five-storey building included shops on the ground floor and 32 residential units above. Authorities said the suspect had previously used the same pest-control method without incident. Investigators are also examining whether building materials or safety code violations contributed to the fire’s rapid spread.

Rise of DIY Flamethrower Trend

Makeshift flamethrowers, often created using lighters and aerosol sprays, have become a popular DIY pest-control trend on social media. In a similar incident in 2018, an Australian man accidentally set his kitchen on fire while attempting to kill cockroaches using the same method.

Also Read: Watch: Iranian Leader Who Led Hijab Crackdown Slammed After Daughter’s Strapless Wedding Dress Goes Viral