Seoul Halloween crush: Aftermath of disaster in pictures

South Korea is in shock after more than 150 people - many of them teenagers - died in a surging crowd packed into an alley in the capital.

Itaewon, a popular nightlife district, became a magnet for thousands of Halloween revellers after Covid restrictions were finally lifted.

Crowds squeezed into the narrow streets and alleys of Itaewon

The crowd consisted mainly of teenagers and other young people in their 20s

Emergency services poured into the area as the scale of the tragedy became clear

Victims' belongings left at the scene included Halloween party masks

Grief-stricken relatives gathered at a community centre as victims were identified

The father of one of the victims fell to the ground at one point

Hours later, many were still trying to make contact with their loved ones

Outside, people began paying their respects at makeshift memorials

This narrow alley was where the deadly crush happened

President Yoon Seok-ryul (centre) was taken to the site earlier and briefed by fire department officials

Police continued to stand guard near the scene as officials establish what caused the crush