BEIJING, July 6 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China on Thursday night activated an emergency mechanism for a boat accident in Phuket, the ministry said Friday.

Two boats carrying 127 Chinese tourists capsized in turbulent waters off the coast of Phuket Island in Thailand on Thursday afternoon. Sixteen of them have been confirmed dead, 78 rescued and 33 are still missing, according to the latest report by the Chinese Embassy in Thailand.

The ministry asked China's tourism office in Thailand to follow the accident and fully support the work of the Chinese consulate and embassy.

Related departments of the ministry were urged to verify the information of the tourists, guide and supervise local tourism authorities to properly carry out follow-up work.

The ministry said it would spare no efforts to cooperate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese consulate and embassy in Thailand on search and rescue for the missing tourists, comforting and treating the rescued and other follow-up work.

Most of the Chinese tourists involved in the accident booked their trips via online tourism platforms, according to the ministry.