Spain's defense ministry says one of its frigates has rescued almost 500 people from a wooden boat off the Libyan coast as it headed slowly north toward Europe.

Authorities say that among the 494 rescued Sunday were 18 women and eight children.

A defense ministry statement on Monday says that the frigate provided those rescued with food and medical treatment before Spanish sailors destroyed the boat to stop it being used by human traffickers.

The frigate is patrolling the Mediterranean as part of a European operation to capture and destroy vessels used by migrant smugglers or traffickers.