Beirut: At least 750 people were rescued today from three small boats in international waters near the Libyan coast by a ship operated by Doctors without Borders, a spokesman told AFP.

“Over 750 people have been rescued since 5:00 am,” Yazan al-Saadi, MSF’s regional communications officer said in Beirut. He said a fourth rescue operation by MSF’s Bourbon Argos search-and-rescue vessel was currently under way.

In videos sent to AFP by MSF, hundreds of people in brightly-coloured clothes are sprawled out on the ship, some hugging and clapping.

“There are multiple nationalities... Thankfully, everyone is in good health,” said MSF spokesman Sami al-Subaihi, who is seen aboard the ship in the video. “We are heading now towards the fourth boat, and we will see what the situation is like there,” Subaihi said.

The Bourbon Argos has 26 people on board, including medical specialists.

“Once rescued, MSF treats the refugees on the ship in case of any cases of dehydration or other medical issues,” Saadi told AFP.

“Then we take them to our centres either in Italy or Greece,” he added.