Emergency Numbers in Spain: 112 and the Complete 2026 List

112 — the one number to remember

112 is Spain’s single emergency number, and it is the same across the entire European Union. One call reaches the police, ambulance service and fire brigade — the operator coordinates whichever service you need, so you do not have to know which to ask for.

• It is completely free — from landlines, mobiles, and even phones with no credit or no SIM card.
• English is available — 112 operators in tourist regions handle English, French and German as standard.
• It works anywhere in Spain, including the Canary and Balearic Islands.
• Your location can be traced — modern mobiles send AML location data to the 112 centre, which helps if you are not sure exactly where you are.

If you are ever unsure which number to call, call 112. It is the safest default for any genuine emergency.

Direct emergency numbers in Spain

Spain also keeps the older direct-dial numbers in service. If you know exactly which service you need, these connect you straight to it:

• 112 — General emergencies (all services, EU-wide, English spoken)
• 091 — Policía Nacional (National Police — serious crime, cities and large towns)
• 062 — Guardia Civil (rural areas, motorways and major roads, traffic incidents)
• 092 — Policía Local / Municipal (local matters, minor traffic, town centres)
• 061 — Emergencias Sanitarias (medical emergencies and ambulances)
• 080 / 085 — Bomberos (fire brigade — the number varies by municipality)
• 016 — Gender-violence helpline (free, confidential, leaves no trace on the phone bill)

Which number should I call?

For most situations, 112 is the right call — but here is the direct route if you prefer it:

• Car accident on a motorway or rural road → 112, or 062 (Guardia Civil de Tráfico). Then call your insurer’s assistance line.
• Car accident or breakdown in town → 112 or 092 (Policía Local), then your insurer.
• Theft, burglary or assault → 091 (Policía Nacional) in cities, or 112. You will need to file a denuncia for any insurance claim.
• Medical emergency → 061 or 112.
• Fire → 080 (or 085) or 112.
• At sea or boating emergency → 900 202 202 (Salvamento Marítimo) or 112.

Useful non-emergency numbers

• 060 — General government information line
• 011 — DGT traffic and road-conditions information
• 91 562 04 20 — National Toxicology Institute (poisoning / Instituto Nacional de Toxicología), 24 hours
• 900 202 202 — Salvamento Marítimo (maritime rescue)

For a stolen or lost passport, contact your country’s consulate; the police denuncia (filed via 091/092 or online) is usually the first step.

What to say when you call

Stay as calm as you can and give the operator the essentials:

• Where you are — town, road number, a kilometre marker, or a nearby landmark. Location matters most.
• What has happened — accident, fire, medical, crime.
• How many people are involved and whether anyone is injured.
• Do not hang up until the operator tells you to — they may need more detail or give you instructions.

If your Spanish is not strong, simply say “English, please” — 112 will connect an English-speaking operator in most regions.

112 mobile apps: My112 and AlertCops

Two official Spanish government apps let you reach 112 without speaking. Install them before you need them.

• My112 — the official Spanish 112 app, free on iOS and Android. Calling 112 from inside the app automatically sends your GPS coordinates, mobile number and a short profile to the operator. Saves crucial minutes when you cannot describe where you are — particularly on hiking trails, beach paths, motorways or in rural areas.
• AlertCops — the Ministerio del Interior’s app for direct, silent contact with the Policía Nacional and Guardia Civil. Works as a text-based chat (useful if you cannot speak, are hearing-impaired, or are in a situation where speaking aloud is dangerous). Includes a one-tap SOS button that transmits location plus victim profile.
• AML (Advanced Mobile Location) — all 112 calls from a modern Android or iPhone in Spain automatically send accurate GPS location to the 112 control centre. You don’t need to do anything; it works in the background as long as you have signal.

Calling 112 with no signal — emergency roaming

In Spain, your phone will complete a 112 call even when it has no signal from your network provider, as long as another carrier has a signal in that location. Your phone falls back to whichever network is reachable, free of charge. This is mandated by EU regulation and works for every Spanish mobile carrier — Movistar, Vodafone, Orange and MásMóvil — as well as foreign SIM cards roaming in Spain.

If your phone shows "Emergency calls only" or "No service — SOS", dialling 112 still works.

Embassy 24-hour emergency lines for expats in Spain

For passport loss, arrest, hospitalisation, the death of a family member or a major incident affecting a citizen abroad, every major embassy in Madrid keeps a 24-hour emergency line. Save the one for your nationality:

If you are arrested in Spain you have the right to contact the consulate of your country. Lawyers in Spain will not contact your embassy automatically — you must request it.

Maritime emergency: Salvamento Marítimo (900 202 202)

The Costa Blanca is the busiest stretch of pleasure-boating coastline in mainland Spain, and the Mediterranean produces hundreds of search-and-rescue call-outs every summer. The maritime emergency line is:

• 900 202 202 — Centro Nacional de Coordinación de Salvamento Marítimo (CNCS) — free, 24/7, English available.
• 112 — also dispatches the Salvamento Marítimo unit if you don’t know the direct number.
• VHF Channel 16 — the international maritime distress channel. If you are on a boat with a VHF radio, this is the fastest route. Say "MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY" three times, your boat name, position and the nature of the emergency.

Cover for an at-sea incident is found in our marine and boat insurance — including breakdown towing and personal-injury cover for crew.

Mountain, forest and wildfire emergencies

Spain’s interior sees thousands of wildfires, mountain-rescue call-outs and lost-hiker incidents every year. The lines you need:

• 112 — reports any forest fire or mountain incident; dispatches Guardia Civil de Montaña, INFOCA (Andalucía) or the regional forestry emergency team.
• 085 — Bomberos direct line in many regions for forest fires.
• 062 — Guardia Civil, including the SEPRONA wildlife and environmental protection unit. Use SEPRONA for poaching, illegal hunting, environmental damage, abandoned or mistreated animals.
• 1-1-2 — AEMET red alerts (extreme heat, storm, snow, flooding) trigger 112 reinforcement. Check the AEMET app daily on red-alert days.

If you discover a wildfire, do not approach. Move yourself and any vehicle to a safe distance, dial 112 with your location and a description (extent, direction of spread). Wildfire spreads at up to 25 km/h on the typical Mediterranean summer wind.

Pharmacy, poison and out-of-hours medical

Beyond the ambulance line (061 / 112), these contact points cover non-life-threatening but urgent medical needs:

• 91 562 04 20 — Instituto Nacional de Toxicología (National Toxicology Institute), 24/7. Free advice on poisoning, drug overdoses, plant or animal toxins. Operators speak English.
• 900 121 212 — Clínica Universitaria de Navarra 24-hour medical telephone service (free, public).
• Farmacia de guardia — every Spanish town and city has at least one 24-hour pharmacy on a rota basis. Look for the green cross illuminated outside the door, or check the rota at your local pharmacy’s shop window, the local newspaper, or the website of the regional Colegio Oficial de Farmacéuticos.
• SUMMA 112 / SAMU 061 — regional health-emergency services (Madrid: SUMMA 112; Comunidad Valenciana: SAMU 061; Andalucía: EPES 061; Catalonia: SEM 061).

For pet emergencies the equivalent is the clínica veterinaria de guardia, rota-listed by your municipality or by the regional college of veterinarians (Colegio Oficial de Veterinarios). Many Costa Blanca clinics maintain a 24/7 mobile number for clients with active pet insurance.

Heat, sun, storm and extreme-weather emergencies

Spanish summer heat is the single most under-estimated public-health risk for expats and tourists. If you suspect sunstroke or heat stroke — confusion, dry hot skin, body temperature above 40°C, fainting — call 112 immediately. The British Embassy issues annual heat-safety guidance for this reason. See our complete Sunstroke in Spain guide for symptoms, first aid in the first 15 minutes and treatment costs.

For other extreme-weather situations:

• Floods or flash floods (DANA) — 112 plus AEMET red alert advice. Move to higher ground; never drive through floodwater.
• Snow, ice or extreme cold — 112; in mountain areas the regional Protección Civil coordinates road closures and rescue.
• Storms at sea — do not put to sea. Call 900 202 202 (Salvamento Marítimo) or 112 if already at sea.

Power, water and utility emergencies

For sudden power cuts, gas leaks and water emergencies in your home, the utilities each maintain a 24-hour line:

• Iberdrola — 900 171 171 (electrical faults and emergencies).
• Endesa — 800 76 09 09 (electrical faults and emergencies).
• Naturgy (gas) — 900 750 750 for gas leaks or smell of gas — do NOT switch on lights or use phones inside the property; leave first, then call from outside.
• EDP / Repsol Butano (bottled gas) — 901 100 100 (Repsol) for bottled-gas emergencies and exchange.
• Water — varies by municipality (Aguas de Valencia, Acciona, AquaJávea, Hidraqua, etc.). Save your local water company’s 24-hour line.

For damage that follows an emergency — storm damage, fire damage, water ingress — your home insurance 24-hour assistance line is the next call. Generali Hogar covers emergency tradespeople (plumber, electrician, locksmith) day or night.

Banking, lost-card and identity emergencies

For a lost or stolen card the major Spanish banks all have 24-hour emergency lines:

• Santander — 915 123 123 (Spain) / +34 902 24 24 24 (overseas).
• BBVA — 900 102 801.
• CaixaBank — 900 40 40 90.
• Sabadell — 902 32 33 33.
• Bankinter — 901 13 13 13.

For a lost passport, file a denuncia with the Policía Nacional (091) and then contact your country’s embassy emergency line from the table above. The denuncia is required to obtain an emergency travel document.

Common Spanish emergency phrases

If you reach an operator who does not switch to English, these phrases cover most situations:

What happens after you call 112 in Spain

Knowing the response pathway helps you stay calm and give the operator the right information.

1. The 112 control centre (CCE) receives the call, identifies the regional dispatch desks needed (police, ambulance, fire) and forwards live audio plus all caller data (number, AML location, profile).
2. Regional dispatch sends the appropriate units. Typical urban response times: ambulance 8–12 minutes; Policía Local 5–10 minutes; Policía Nacional or Guardia Civil 10–20 minutes; fire brigade 7–14 minutes.
3. Rural response on the Costa Blanca runs longer — expect 15–25 minutes for an ambulance in an urbanisation, longer for fire or police if no unit is nearby.
4. The 112 operator stays on the line until units arrive, especially on medical calls, and may give you first-aid instructions in real time.
5. After the incident, you will be asked to file a denuncia at the Policía Nacional or Guardia Civil station for any crime, theft or injury where you need a record for insurance purposes.

How your insurance fits in

The emergency services deal with the immediate danger; your insurance handles what comes next. After a car accident, your policy’s 24-hour assistance line arranges towing, a replacement vehicle and the claim. Travel and health insurance policies have their own emergency medical lines that can direct you to a private clinic and guarantee payment. Home insurance includes 24-hour assistance for plumbing, electrical, locksmith and glazing emergencies. As authorised Generali agents in Jávea, we make sure every client has the right assistance numbers and understands how to use them — all in English. Contact us or call 966 461 625.

Frequently asked questions

Sources & references

• 112.es — official information on Spain’s 112 emergency service.
• Ministerio del Interior — Policía Nacional, Guardia Civil and the AlertCops app.
• Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) — road and traffic emergencies.
• Salvamento Marítimo — Spanish maritime search and rescue (900 202 202).
• AEMET — Spanish Met Office, red-alert system for extreme weather.
• Ministerio de Sanidad — National Toxicology Institute and emergency health protocols.
• GOV.UK — Foreign travel advice: Spain — British Embassy emergency contact.

Related guides & insurance

• Sunstroke in Spain — symptoms, first aid & 112 guide
• Spanish private health insurance (Generali Salud)
• European Accident Statement (Parte Amistoso)
• Car insurance Spain — UK no-claims accepted
• Home insurance Spain — 24-hour assistance
• Marine and boat insurance Spain
• Pet insurance Spain (Ley 7/2023 dog liability)
• Moving to the Costa Blanca — 2026 expat guide
• Can You Drink Tap Water in Spain? — Safety by Region

This guide is general information, not personalised advice. Emergency numbers and procedures can change and vary by region. In any emergency, call 112.