National
flags have been lowered at half-mast in the country, concerts, festivals and
other festive events have been canceled or postponed. TV channels and radio
stations have replaced entertainment programs with newscasts and special
editions. Interfax.ru.
The tragedy
occurred on September 24 during the exercises of the Kazakh Navy. Due to a
sharp deterioration in the weather and increased wind, 17 servicemen were swept
into the Caspian Sea - 14 of them died, three were rescued.
Among the
dead were an officer with the rank of senior lieutenant and 11 conscripts.
A criminal
case has been opened into the deaths of military personnel. A government
commission headed by Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev has been set up to
determine the causes of the incident.
