Apple's iPhone 5 is embroiled in another controversy, this time over the death of a 23-year-old Chinese woman on Sunday. The relatives alleged her untimely death was because she got electrocuted by the smartphone gadget when she tried to answer a call while its battery was charging.

Ma Ailun, who just recently quit her job as a flight attendant for China Southern Airlines, was at her home in Xinjiang on Thursday when the fatal accident happened.

News surrounding her death went viral when her older sister posted it on Sina Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter. In her post, the older sister called on Apple to shed light on the concerning security risk of the iPhone 5 smartphone gadget unit.

"(I) hope that Apple Inc. can give us an explanation. I also hope that all of you will refrain from using your mobile devices while charging," her post read, as quoted by Xinhua News.

Local police had confirmed that the young Chinese woman died of electrocution. However, authorities have yet to ascertain if her death and the electrocution were indeed caused by the iPhone 5.

Apple, meantime, has vowed to look into the matter.

"We are deeply sorry for the unfortunate accident," the company said in a statement, as it extended its condolences to the victim's family.

The smartphone company likewise said it would fully cooperate with police investigations to shed light on the matter.

Ma Ailun, who bought the iPhone in December at an official Apple store, fell to the floor when she rushed to answer the call while the smartphone was charging. Her sister said Ma Ailun was using the original charger to recharge the phone at the time of the incident.

"I want to warn everyone else not to make phone calls when your mobile phone is recharging," the older sister said on Sina Weibo.

"If the charger or the circuit has a problem, such as a broken wire, it can lead to a shock of 220 volts," China.org.cn quoted an unidentified senior physics teacher at a Nanjing high school.

The senior physics teacher went on to say that mobile phones typical output ranges only between 3 to 5 volts, a measly amount to harm the human body. Electric shock occurs when the voltage occurs more than 36 volts.