Kazakhstan has declared September 25 a national day of mourning following the deaths of servicemen during naval exercises in the Mangystau region.

Axar.az reports, citing Qazinform, that the incident occurred on September 24 during drills on the Caspian Sea coast. Nineteen servicemen were swept into the sea after weather conditions deteriorated and strong winds intensified.

Nine servicemen died, three were rescued, and one of those rescued was hospitalized. Search and rescue operations are ongoing.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed condolences to the families of the victims, while Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov ordered the creation of a government commission to investigate the incident.