Tragedy in the Caspian Sea: Nine Kazakh Soldiers Die During Military Training

A training incident on the Caspian coast in Kazakhstan's western Mangystau region has resulted in the deaths of nine military personnel, according to the country's Defence Ministry.

The combat training mission on Thursday saw a total of nineteen personnel swept out to sea amid a sudden deterioration in weather conditions, initial reports indicate. While three individuals have been successfully rescued, the ministry confirmed nine fatalities in a statement published on Telegram.

Authorities reported that an extensive search and rescue operation remains ongoing to locate the remaining unaccounted-for personnel. The Caspian is bordered by Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkmenistan.