At least nine soldiers dead in naval exercise off Kazakhstan
A storm swept 19 soldiers into the Caspian Sea during a Kazakh armed forces naval exercise, with at least nine confirmed dead. Search efforts continue amid harsh weather.
At least nine soldiers have died during a naval exercise held by Kazakhstan's armed forces in the Caspian Sea, the country's Emergency Situations Ministry announced on Thursday.
According to official information, a storm swept a total of 19 soldiers into the sea. Three were rescued, while the deaths of nine have been confirmed. Search operations for the remaining missing servicemen are ongoing.
Conflicting casualty figures
Local outlet Lada.kz, citing its reporter at the scene, reported that the bodies of two more soldiers had been recovered from the water. Meanwhile, television channel Atameken reported that the death toll had already reached 12. Kazakhstan's Defense Ministry has not yet officially confirmed these higher figures.
Criminal case opened
Kazakhstan's Prosecutor General's Office has opened a criminal case over the soldiers' deaths, and the government has formed a special commission to investigate the incident. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has expressed condolences to the families of the deceased.
Bad weather hampering search efforts
The exercise, named "Khazar Fortress-2026," began in the Caspian Sea on September 22 and involves more than 500 soldiers. For a second day, the area has faced adverse weather conditions — strong winds and large waves are significantly hampering rescue and search operations.
