Death toll from Kazakhstan’s naval drills rises to 14 after missing troops found dead in Caspian
Kazakhstan observes nationwide mourning on September 25 following the deaths of 14 servicemen during military exercises in the Caspian Sea. The search for the missing personnel continued overnight on Thursday, with hundreds of people, vessels, and aircraft deployed.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared the day of mourning following the September 24 accident off the Mangystau region and expressed condolences to the families.
Kazakhstan’s defence ministry released an update on Friday morning, saying that a rescue party had found the bodies of the two missing, a sergeant and a sailor. It added that the search and rescue operation was completed.
Regional authorities said earlier that 17 servicemen had been swept out to sea. Twelve of them died, three were rescued, and two were still missing. The revised figures supersede the original reports of nine deaths and seven missing.
Read more: How the Caspian Sea training accident unfolded: Kursiv’s initial report
Hundreds join search
The operation involves 252 personnel, including 37 military divers, and 14 vessels and boats, alongside aircraft and helicopters, according to the defence ministry.
Deputy prime minister Kanat Bozumbayev, who heads the government commission investigating the accident, ordered that the search continue around the clock. According to the ministry, the servicemen were conducting a training exercise when conditions deteriorated dramatically and winds increased.
The accident occurred during the Khazar Korgany-2026 exercises, which began on September 22 and involved more than 500 naval personnel, as well as Coast Guard and air defence units, as previously reported by Kursiv.
Read more: Kazakhstan tells Caspian oil firms to host armed security teams
Investigation underway
Authorities have launched a criminal investigation under provisions relating to negligent military duties and violations of navigation rules. An interagency team is investigating, and forensic tests have been ordered.
The government commission stated that families would receive social and financial assistance. The deputy health minister informed the commission that a serviceman receiving hospital treatment was in stable condition and faced no threat to his life.
