The Italian Coast Guard has rescued 130 migrants from a small boat caught in a storm and brought them safely ashore.
The migrants were transported to the city of Crotone, in the southern region of Calabria, after their small fishing boat encountered rough seas 110 miles south of the coast.
The rescue operation began after a distress signal was sent from the boat via satellite phone. Two Coast Guard vessels were deployed to evacuate the passengers.
According to those rescued, the boat had departed from Turkey on January 30. Most of the passengers were Iranian and Afghan nationals, including 27 women and 30 minors.
Upon arrival, a pregnant woman and a man with a disability were hospitalized, while the remaining asylum seekers were given medical check-ups and taken to a temporary shelter.
