Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has declared September 25 a day of national mourning for servicemen killed during naval exercises in the Caspian Sea, Podrobno.uz reports.

The incident occurred on September 24 during the "Khazar Qorg'any-2026" naval drills in Kazakhstan's sector of the Caspian Sea. Due to a sharp deterioration in weather and strong winds, a group of servicemen carrying out a training-combat task was swept out to sea. A total of 19 people ended up in the water, of whom three were rescued, while the search for the others continues. Authorities have so far reported nine dead, while media reports indicate that 12 bodies have been recovered from the water.

President Tokayev expressed condolences to the families of the victims and instructed a government commission to take all necessary measures to assist them. A criminal case has been opened into the deaths, and a Ministry of Defense commission led by Minister Dauran Kosanov has arrived in the Mangystau region to clarify the circumstances of the incident.

Earlier, weather forecasters predicted wind gusts of up to 20 meters per second in the region. More than 500 people took part in the maneuvers under the command of Kanat Niyazbekov, commander-in-chief of the Kazakh Navy.

The search and rescue operation is ongoing, and officials do not rule out that the death toll may rise. The tragedy has sparked widespread public outcry in Kazakhstan, raising questions about the safety of military exercises.

Source: podrobno.uz