Coastguards in Mauritania have recovered Eighty-one bodies of migrants from a boat that capsized in the Atlantic Ocean.

Nine people including a five-year-old girl were rescued, but dozens more are still missing.

Survivors say the vessel, a traditional fishing boat set sail last week from the Senegalese-Gambian border area with One hundred and seventy people on board. 

The boat capsized off Mauritania's south-western coast.

Mauritania is a key transit point for migrants trying to reach Europe from West Africa.