More than 100 migrants saved trying to reach Europe

ROME, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Italian authorities on Friday rescued more than 100 migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea, officials said.

Off the coast of Puglia, the Italian coast guard rescued 28 migrants from Afghanistan, Syria and Pakistan, Italy's ANSA news agency reported.

A man and his daughter were taken to a hospital for checkups after they reached land.

Earlier, the Italian navy rescued about 100 sub-Saharan African migrants, including 23 women and 46 minors, south of the island of Lampedusa, ANSA said.

Naval officials said the rescue operation took "all night because of the bad weather and the heavy sea conditions."