Nine Kazakh servicemen die during exercise in the Caspian Sea

Nineteen servicemen were swept into the Caspian Sea during an exercise conducted by the Naval Forces of Kazakhstan in the Mangystau Region. Nine people have died, three have been rescued, and the search for seven others is ongoing, El.kz reports, citing the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The incident occurred on September,24 along the Caspian coast during the execution of a training and combat task. According to preliminary information provided by the Ministry of Defence, the incident was caused by a sudden deterioration in weather conditions and an increase in wind speed.

A total of 19 servicemen were swept into the sea. As of the latest official statement, nine of them had died and three had been rescued. One of those rescued has been hospitalized.

The search and rescue operation is ongoing.

Units of the Naval Forces, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, aviation assets and other relevant services have been deployed to conduct the search. A commission of the Ministry of Defence, headed by Minister Dauren Kosanov, has also been dispatched to the scene.

The Ministry of Defence expressed its condolences to the families and relatives of those who died and stated that the families would receive the necessary assistance.