The death toll has risen in the accident that occurred during a training activity involving Naval Forces units approximately 43 kilometers off the coast of the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan.
In a written statement issued by the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan, it was stated that the death toll has risen to 12 in the incident where 19 soldiers were swept into the sea as a result of a sudden deterioration in weather conditions and intensifying winds.
The statement reported that 3 soldiers were rescued during the ongoing search and rescue operations, and efforts to rescue 2 other soldiers are continuing.
On the other hand, a statement from the Presidency of Kazakhstan indicated that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev extended his condolences to the families and relatives of the soldiers who lost their lives during the exercise. A national day of mourning has been declared in Kazakhstan for tomorrow due to the loss of the soldiers.
Following the incident, a government commission was established to investigate the causes of the tragedy upon the instructions of Prime Minister Oljas Bektenov of Kazakhstan. Prime Minister Bektenov instructed Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev, who chairs the commission, to immediately go to the scene to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the causes of the soldiers' deaths and to ensure that necessary support is provided to the families of those who lost their lives.
News Source: İHA
