BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 24. A government
commission has been established by order of Kazakhstan's Prime
Minister to investigate the causes of the deaths of servicemen
during exercises in the Mangystau region today, the press service
of the Kazakh government said.
"The commission includes the Minister of Defense, the Akimat of
the Mangystau region, senior officials from the Ministry of Labor
and Social Protection of the Population, the Ministry of Emergency
Situations, the Ministry of Healthcare, the Ministry of Transport,
the Chief Military Prosecutor, and representatives of the Border
Service," the government said.
Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov instructed Commission Chairman
Kanat Bozumbayev to immediately travel to the emergency site and
begin work to ensure a comprehensive investigation into the causes
of the servicemen's deaths and provide assistance to the families
of those who died.
The Ministry of Emergency Situations reported earlier on
September 24 that 19 servicemen had been swept into the sea during
exercises in the Mangystau region.
The deaths of nine servicemen have been confirmed so far. Three
servicemen were rescued, including one who was hospitalized. The
search for the others is ongoing.
According to the ministry, rescue forces and equipment were
immediately sent to the scene. Units of the Naval Forces, the
Ministry of Emergency Situations, aviation and other relevant
services are involved in the search and rescue operation.
