Twelve Kazakh soldiers die in Caspian Sea training incident
At least 17 Kazakh soldiers swept out to sea during naval training in western Mangystau region.
Twelve Kazakh military personnel have died after being swept out to sea during naval training exercises on the Caspian coast, authorities have said.
The accident happened on Thursday in Kazakhstan’s western Mangystau region, which adjoins the Caspian Sea, during a combat drill mission.
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Seventeen personnel were swept out in total, according to preliminary information, and 12 deaths have been confirmed so far, the regional government said on Telegram.
Earlier, the Ministry of Defence said nine soldiers had died.
It said the servicemen died while carrying out a combat training mission, with the incident occurring following a “sudden deterioration in weather conditions and intensifying winds”.
A commission led by Defence Minister Dauren Kosanov was urgently deployed to the site to establish the circumstances behind the incident and coordinate search and rescue efforts, it added.
Three people have been rescued. A search and rescue operation for the remaining two personnel was still under way.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared a nationwide day of mourning for Friday following the incident.
The Caspian is bordered by Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkmenistan.
