A woman in South Korea accidentally burned down her apartment building while trying to kill a cockroach — a tragic mistake that led to the death of her neighbor.
The incident happened in the city of Osan earlier this week, when the woman, reportedly in her 20s, tried to torch a cockroach using a lighter and an aerosol spray, creating an improvised flamethrower.
Authorities said the flames quickly spread, setting fire to her bed and a pile of rubbish, before engulfing the rest of the five-story building.
Videos shared on social media showed thick smoke pouring out of the structure as firefighters rushed to rescue residents trapped inside.
Among the victims was a Chinese woman in her 30s who lived on the fifth floor with her husband and their two-month-old baby. As the fire spread, the couple reportedly handed their baby through a window to neighbors in the adjacent block before attempting to escape themselves.
The husband managed to climb across to safety, but his wife fell from the window while trying to follow and later died in hospital from her injuries.
Police believe the pair attempted to flee through the window because dense smoke had blocked the stairway, leaving them with no other way out.
Eight other residents suffered smoke inhalation, though none were seriously injured.
Officials said the woman responsible for starting the fire could face charges of accidentally causing death by negligence and starting a fire. Police have stated they plan to seek an arrest warrant.
In recent years, blasting cockroaches with homemade flamethrowers — often using insect spray and a lighter — has become a dangerous trend on social media. Similar incidents have previously caused kitchen fires and serious damage in other countries, including Australia.
