BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 25. The bodies of
two servicemen who went missing after being swept into the Caspian
Sea during military exercises in Kazakhstan’s Mangystau region on
September 24 have been found, the country’s Defense Ministry
said.
“The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports
the completion of the search operation in the Caspian Sea. Today,
September 25, at around 09:15, during continuous search and rescue
operations, the bodies of two previously missing servicemen -
Sergeant Mansur Gumarov and sailor Miras Turdybekuly - were found,”
the ministry said.
The ministry said the incident occurred due to a sudden and
sharp deterioration in weather conditions while servicemen were
carrying out a combat training mission, resulting in 17 servicemen
being swept into the open sea.
Three servicemen were rescued, while 14 died in the
incident.
“The leadership and personnel of the Ministry of Defense and the
Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan express their deep and
sincere condolences to the relatives and loved ones of the
servicemen who died. The families of the deceased will receive all
necessary comprehensive financial and psychological assistance,”
the ministry said.
Earlier, Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister ordered the establishment
of a government commission to investigate the causes of the
servicemen’s deaths during the exercises in the Mangystau
region.
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared September
25 a national day of mourning in connection with the tragedy.
