A government commission has been set up in Kazakhstan to investigate the deaths of servicemen in the Mangystau Region. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov instructed the commission's chairman, Kanat Bozumbayev, to travel immediately to the site of the emergency, the website infohub.kz reports.
The commission includes the defense minister, the akim of the Mangystau Region, the heads of the ministries of labor and social protection, emergency situations, health care and transport, the chief military prosecutor, and representatives of the Border Service.
"The prime minister instructed the commission's chairman, Kanat Bozumbayev, to begin work to ensure a thorough investigation into the causes of the servicemen's deaths and to provide assistance to the families of the victims," the Cabinet of Ministers said.
The tragedy occurred today, September 24, during exercises by the Naval Forces on the coast of the Caspian Sea. A sharp deterioration in the weather and storm winds swept 19 servicemen out to sea. According to the Ministry of Defense, nine people died, three were rescued, and the search for the others continues with the involvement of aviation and forces from the Naval Forces and the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
A commission headed by Defense Minister Dauran Kosanov has traveled to the scene. The Ministry of Defense expressed condolences to the relatives of the victims and promised to provide their families with all necessary assistance.
Earlier, Kursiv wrote that the Prosecutor General's Office launched an investigation after nine servicemen died during exercises at the Aktau garrison.