Woman Arrested After Attempt to Kill Cockroach Sparks Fire, Killing Neighbor

A woman in her 20s from Osan, South Korea, has been arrested after allegedly setting her apartment on fire while attempting to kill a cockroach, resulting in the death of her neighbour. Authorities say the incident occurred around 5:30 a.m. on Monday, October 20, when the woman reportedly used a lighter and a flammable spray to burn the insect inside her home. The fire quickly spread throughout the apartment building, forcing residents to flee for their lives.

According to local police, the woman admitted to using the same method to kill cockroaches in the past. Investigators have requested an arrest warrant, describing her as a flight risk, and plan to charge her with causing death by negligence and accidental arson.

The fire’s most tragic consequence was the death of a woman in her 30s, a Chinese national who had recently given birth to her first child two months earlier. As thick smoke filled her fifth-floor apartment, she and her husband reportedly handed their baby to a neighbour in an adjacent building before trying to escape themselves. Her husband managed to jump to safety, but she fell while attempting the same and later died from her injuries.

Eight other residents suffered minor injuries, mostly from smoke inhalation, according to Yonhap News Agency. Police have confirmed that investigations are still underway and that the case will be handed over to prosecutors once completed.