Kazakhstan puts final toll from naval drills accident at 14

Almaty, Kazakhstan: Kazakhstan on Friday said two more bodies had been found after an accident a day earlier during naval drills on the Caspian coast, bringing the final death toll to 14.

The accident happened on Thursday in the western Mangystau region on the coast of the vast inland sea during a combat training exercise.

Seventeen personnel were swept out to sea when the weather deteriorated quickly, the Kazakh defence ministry said.

"Three of them were rescued, while 14 military personnel lost their lives," the defence ministry said in a Telegram post Friday, adding that the search and rescue operation was now concluded.

The authorities had put the previous toll at 12 killed.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ordered a government commission to look into the circumstances of the incident and a criminal investigation has also been opened.

Tokayev declared Friday as a day of national mourning.