Rescue operations continue as coastguard ships and helicopters search for potential survivors. Eighteen individuals have been rescued, many with injuries, in an area near Rhodes known for migrant smuggling activities. The Mediterranean remains one of the deadliest routes for asylum seekers, with thousands perishing each year in their quest for a safer life in Europe. This year alone, over 50,000 migrants have reached Greece's shores by boat, while the total number of migrants arriving in Europe has reached 180,000, amid rising fatality statistics, particularly affecting children.