Woman dies escaping fire sparked by neighbor's cockroach-killing method in South Korea

The fire broke out Monday morning in a five-story mixed-use building in Osan City of Gyeonggi Province.

Authorities say the flames started on the second floor at around 5:35 a.m. after a woman in her 20s attempted a cockroach-killing technique she had seen on YouTube, combining an open flame with an aerosol insect spray, according to The Korea Herald.

The flames quickly spread to a bed and nearby trash and engulfed the floor. Firefighters extinguished the blaze within about 40 minutes.

One person was killed and eight others suffered smoke inhalation. The deceased was identified by police as a Chinese woman in her 30s who lived on the fifth floor with her husband and their two-month-old child.

When the fire erupted, the couple opened a window to call for help while holding the infant. Because the adjacent building stood less than one meter away, neighbors were able to reach across and take the baby to safety, Korea Times reported.

The husband also escaped by crossing to the neighboring building, but the wife fell while attempting the same move. She was taken to a local hospital with severe injuries and later died.

Police said thick smoke had made it unsafe to use the stairs, forcing residents to flee via windows. They are seeking an arrest warrant for the woman on the second floor on charges of accidental arson resulting in death.