What to do and Who to call during an emergency in Mexico

Emergency in Mexico right now? Call 911. Mexico’s nationwide emergency service receives calls for urgent medical help, police, firefighting and civil protection. Say your state, municipality, neighbourhood, street, house or building number and nearest landmark. If someone is seriously injured, threatened by violence, trapped in floodwater or in a spreading fire, call before continuing to read.

This guide is written for people living in or visiting Mexico, including Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Cancún, Acapulco, Oaxaca, rural communities and major highway corridors. It puts the numbers and immediate actions at the top, then explains what to do during medical emergencies, crime, road incidents, earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding and heat. The emergency-number sources include the Government of Mexico’s 23 October 2026 update; checked 5 November 2026.

Quick answer: who to call in Mexico

911 — national emergency number: for police, ambulance and medical assistance, firefighters, civil-protection incidents and immediate risks to people or property. Available at all hours across the country.
089 — anonymous crime reporting (Denuncia Anónima): report information about suspected offences requiring investigation, without making an urgent on-scene emergency request. If someone is being attacked or threatened now, call 911.
074 — CAPUFE: assistance and incident reporting on toll roads operated by Caminos y Puentes Federales. Call 911 for a life-threatening collision or dangerous fire; 074 may help coordinate support on CAPUFE routes.
078 — Ángeles Verdes: tourist-oriented highway assistance, including mechanical and travel support where provided. It is not an ambulance-dispatch substitute.
088 — Guardia Nacional contact: some federal government emergency directories list federal-police or highway-related assistance, but service arrangements have evolved; 911 is the clear nationwide emergency first choice.
071 — CFE electricity service: reported by some state government directories for power-service issues; treat routine outages as utility matters, but call 911 when electrocution, fire or an imminent danger is involved.

Government confirmation: Mexico’s official 911 portal, Security Ministry explanation of 911, 089 and 088, SICT July 2026 confirmation of 911 and CAPUFE 074 and Baja California’s official contact directory.

The first minute: seven immediate actions

Protect yourself. Get away from smoke, active traffic, electricity, violent threats, unstable walls or moving floodwater if you can do so safely. During strong earthquake shaking, protect your head and neck first.
Call 911. Say whether an ambulance, police, firefighters or other emergency help is needed. If several services are necessary, say so clearly.
Report your precise location. Name the state (estado), municipality or city (municipio/ciudad), colony or neighbourhood (colonia), street (calle), house number (número), building and nearest landmark.
State the incident in one sentence. ‘One person is unconscious’, ‘a building is burning’, ‘two people are hurt in a crash’ or ‘three people are trapped by water’.
Count those affected. State the number injured, trapped, unconscious or unable to evacuate, and mention serious bleeding or breathing problems.
Follow the operator’s questions. Remain on the call as instructed. Perform first aid only within your training or according to dispatch guidance.
Prepare safe access. Ask someone to meet responders at the gate, hotel lobby, street junction or road marker if safe. Tell the dispatcher if a road is flooded or blocked.

A concise Spanish report is: ‘Necesito una ambulancia. Hay una persona inconsciente en [calle y número], colonia [nombre], [ciudad y estado]. Estamos en el tercer piso. Mi teléfono es [número].’ It means: ‘I need an ambulance. One person is unconscious at [full location], third floor. My phone is [number].’ The address is more useful than a guessed diagnosis.

How Mexico’s 911 system works

Mexico introduced 911 as a unified national emergency number to make it easier to request police, medical or civil-protection response without memorising many agency lines. Emergency call centres (Centros de Atención de Llamadas de Emergencia, CALLE) receive incident reports, classify them and connect or route requests to the appropriate responders. Their response arrangements differ by municipality and state.

The federal statistics portal explains that a 911 call is a report of a perceived emergency, not necessarily a formal criminal complaint to the prosecuting authority. This distinction matters: dispatching an ambulance or police patrol during an urgent incident is different from making a legal report later. Official current background: national 911 data and reporting definitions, 23 October 2026.

Call handlers need the exact location, what happened, current danger and contact number. Mobile location services may help but do not replace the building, alley, gate, unit or road-direction details needed by responders. If your call disconnects, make another attempt and repeat the essential facts.

When to call 911 for urgent medical help

Someone collapses, stops breathing normally or has severe symptoms

Call 911 immediately for an unconscious person, severe breathing difficulty, major bleeding, possible heart attack or stroke, significant trauma or a serious allergic reaction. Say what you can see rather than attempting an online diagnosis. If the person is not breathing normally, the dispatcher may guide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or the use of an automatic external defibrillator (AED).

If several people are nearby, one can remain with the patient, another can call emergency services and another can locate an AED or guide the ambulance. Do not give food, drink or tablets to someone who is unconscious or unable to swallow safely. After serious injury, avoid unnecessary movement unless an immediate hazard makes staying in place dangerous.

You do not need to determine which hospital will accept the patient before contacting emergency services. Give the medical dispatch service the available information, and follow its advice about first aid and safe transport. A hotel, school, workplace or residential compound should have a clear way to bring responders to the person.

A traveller is injured away from a large city

A tourist may be visiting archaeological sites, coastal roads, mountains or a remote beach where formal addresses are limited. Name the state and nearest municipality, road or track, kilometre marker, well-known site, beach entrance or local business. Supply GPS coordinates only when they are accurate. A reliable last known location and safe vehicle access can be more important than the nearest large city.

Emergency medical support may be constrained by road conditions or terrain. Do not make an unsafe journey in a private vehicle if doing so risks worsening a serious injury or causing another incident. Explain the access difficulty to 911 and follow the operator.

Police emergencies and immediate personal danger

Call 911 when a violent attack, current threat, robbery, shooting, abduction attempt or other dangerous event is happening. Move to safety, give the exact location and describe what you observed. Do not follow a threatening person to take photographs or identify a vehicle number. If someone is injured, inform the operator that medical help is needed too.

For incidents that are not happening now and do not present imminent danger, Mexico’s 089 anonymous reporting route can receive certain information about suspected criminal activity. Its purpose is different from emergency police dispatch. The federal Security Ministry lists extortion, trafficking and other suspected offences as examples, where an investigation may follow. If someone faces immediate violence, use 911 instead.

The distinction is documented by the Secretaría de Seguridad y Protección Ciudadana. A caller should never be told to use 089 instead of 911 when immediate protection is required.

Fire, smoke, chemical leak or explosion

A spreading fire, heavy smoke or serious explosion risk calls for 911. Warn people when safe, activate the alarm where appropriate and move away using a safe exit. Avoid lifts during a building fire and do not return for possessions. Close doors behind you if safe to slow the movement of smoke. If trapped, tell dispatch your floor, room and the nearest accessible window or staircase.

In commercial buildings, factories, markets and older urban housing, report whether gas cylinders, industrial chemicals, electrical hazards or flammable stock may be involved, but only if that information is known. Do not go back into a dangerous building to read labels or verify a source. Firefighters need a safe entrance and information about missing people, not a risky investigation by bystanders.

Road crashes: when 074 or 078 helps

For a serious collision with injuries, fire or imminent danger, call 911. On roads operated by CAPUFE, 074 is also used to request road assistance and report incidents. The tourism highway support service Ángeles Verdes uses 078 for assistance within its operating arrangements. Neither short number replaces an emergency ambulance call when someone’s life is at risk.

The federal Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport specifically advised travellers in July 2026 to call 911 or CAPUFE 074 when facing a road emergency. The official CAPUFE travel guide notes that short-code dialling may depend on network support, so know the national 911 alternative. Sources: SICT 2026 and CAPUFE highway guidance.

State the highway number, direction of travel, nearest exit or toll booth, kilometre marker and number of injured people. Stay away from moving traffic and leaking fuel. If the roadway is unsafe, move to a protected location without crossing live lanes to collect a better photograph.

Earthquake safety: protect yourself during shaking

Parts of Mexico have substantial seismic hazard, and a serious earthquake may damage roads, water supplies and structures. During strong shaking, protect the head and neck from falling objects. Use suitable cover or an adapted protective position, stay away from glass and unstable furniture, and do not rush down stairs during shaking. Follow the building’s current procedures and official civil-protection instructions.

After shaking, assess visible damage and hazards. If a building is unsafe or local authorities order evacuation, leave using an appropriate route and do not use damaged lifts. Expect aftershocks and avoid collapsing masonry, broken power lines and gas leaks. Call 911 for people who are badly injured or trapped, and tell responders the last known position.

If an earthquake early-warning alarm is active in the city, follow local procedures; different areas have different available warning systems and time before shaking. The absence of an alert does not prove that shaking will not occur. For preparedness and local guidance, check Mexico’s National Center for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED).

Tsunami danger on Pacific coasts

Some Pacific-coast areas can be affected by tsunamis following a significant offshore earthquake. If you are near the shore and experience strong or prolonged earthquake shaking, protect yourself during the shaking, then move rapidly away from the shore to safer higher ground or inland when it is safe to move. Obey official tsunami warnings and designated evacuation routes.

Do not gather on a beach to watch for an unusual wave. A tsunami may comprise multiple waves, with the first not necessarily the largest. Stay outside evacuation zones until an official all-clear. A rescue call is important for people trapped or injured, but it cannot replace leaving the potential impact area promptly.

Hurricanes, heavy rainfall and flooding

Hurricanes and tropical storms affect Mexico’s Atlantic, Caribbean and Pacific coasts with different wind, rain and surge risks. Monitor the National Meteorological Service, CENAPRED and state civil-protection announcements. When local authorities order evacuation, leave before roads become unusable. A storm’s centre being distant does not mean a property cannot experience flash flooding.

Avoid flooded underpasses, low bridges, river crossings and roads where the depth is not visible. Floodwater can conceal debris, open drains and damaged surfaces. Never drive or walk through fast-moving water to keep an appointment or retrieve belongings. If someone is trapped, call 911 with the street, building or landmark, number of people and safest approach.

During strong wind, stay away from windows, unstable signs, trees and power lines. Do not approach sea walls or beaches to film dangerous surf. If your building becomes unsafe, follow the shelter or evacuation directions for your specific municipality rather than relying on social-media screenshots from another region.

Volcanic ash, smoke and nearby eruption hazards

Communities near active volcanoes such as Popocatépetl need to follow official exclusion zones, ash guidance and local Civil Protection instructions. Volcanic hazards can include ash, hot material, gas and mudflows. Do not enter closed areas for sightseeing or approach an active volcano to verify the apparent danger.

If ash is falling, use suitable respiratory and eye protection when necessary and follow official advice about remaining indoors, closing windows or evacuating. Never assume that driving through heavy ash is harmless. Call 911 when someone has urgent medical symptoms or faces immediate danger. CENAPRED provides the public volcano-warning and hazard information.

Violence, family protection and non-urgent support

An emergency number should be chosen by the immediate risk. During an assault or life-threatening threat, use 911 for police and medical response. A person who is safe for now but needs protection, shelter or specialist support may need a local government social-service or victim-support agency afterwards. Those services vary across Mexico’s states and cities.

Do not send someone experiencing an immediate violent attack to an anonymous tip line or a routine complaint portal. The 089 reporting service is for information that can be investigated, not an urgent replacement for police assistance. After safety is established, help the person contact reliable local protection or legal services and preserve relevant evidence without creating new danger.

How to give a Mexican address precisely

State: say the estado and city or municipio.
Neighbourhood: give colonia, fraccionamiento, pueblo or localidad as appropriate.
Street: calle or avenida, exterior house number and interior apartment number.
Building: name the hotel, tower, apartment floor or the correct access gate.
Major road: give highway number, direction, nearest toll plaza and kilometre marker.
Coast or rural area: beach, landmark, village, road access or verified coordinates.
Callback: provide a phone number and mention if reception may be lost.

A hotel name by itself can be ambiguous, especially in a large resort zone. A police patrol or ambulance also needs to know whether the patient is on a public road, inside a tower or behind a guarded entrance. If it helps, ask a safe member of staff to speak the address in Spanish while you remain available to describe the patient.

Useful Spanish phrases in a Mexican emergency

‘¡Ayuda!’ — Help!
‘Necesito una ambulancia.’ — I need an ambulance.
‘Hay un incendio.’ — There is a fire.
‘Necesito a la policía.’ — I need the police.
‘Hay una persona inconsciente.’ — There is an unconscious person.
‘No está respirando normalmente.’ — They are not breathing normally.
‘La dirección es…’ — The address is…
‘No hablo español muy bien.’ — I do not speak Spanish very well.
‘¿Puede ayudarme a explicar dónde estamos?’ — Can you help explain where we are?

Interpreter availability can differ by call centre. Do not delay calling 911 to produce a perfect Spanish sentence. Short accurate phrases, a written address and a nearby person who can safely help are practical solutions.

A five-minute emergency plan for homes and visitors

Save 911 as the first emergency number, with 089 clearly marked ‘anonymous non-urgent crime report’.
Add CAPUFE 074 and Ángeles Verdes 078 if travelling regularly by relevant highways.
Write the full state, municipio, colonia, road, house or building number and nearest landmark.
Identify a safe way out of your accommodation and a point to meet after fire or earthquake evacuation.
Review the region’s natural hazards: earthquake, hurricane, flood, volcanic activity, wildfire or landslide.
Keep essential medicine, identification, charger, torch, drinking water and personal needs accessible.
Make a plan for children, older relatives and anyone who needs mobility or communication assistance.
Use official state Civil Protection announcements and weather warnings when conditions change.

Mistakes that can cost time

Calling 089 for an active assault or violent threat instead of 911.
Calling a toll-road assistance line before 911 when someone is critically injured.
Giving only ‘Mexico City’ or ‘Cancún’ rather than the street, colonia, hotel entrance or location marker.
Running into a damaged stairwell during strong earthquake shaking.
Driving across water that appears shallow but may hide a strong current or damaged bridge.
Returning into smoke or a closed volcanic zone to collect belongings.
Assuming a phone automatically tells rescuers the correct tower, apartment or rural road access.
Trusting an old social-media warning instead of the current local authority alert.

Frequently asked questions

Is 911 the nationwide emergency number in Mexico?

Yes. Mexico’s official 911 service covers urgent medical, police and civil-protection reports. The federal 911 portal published updated national service statistics on 23 October 2026.

What does 089 do in Mexico?

It is the anonymous reporting line for suspected criminal activity needing investigation, not the main route for immediate on-scene emergency response.

What is CAPUFE’s emergency number?

074 is CAPUFE’s travel and road-assistance contact for the routes it operates. For a life-threatening incident use 911 as appropriate.

Is 078 an ambulance number?

No. Ángeles Verdes 078 is a tourism and roadside assistance service, not the nationwide emergency ambulance-dispatch line.

Should I wait for an earthquake alert before protecting myself?

No. When shaking starts, protect your head and neck immediately and follow the safest available building procedure; warning coverage and lead time vary.

What if I cannot speak Spanish fluently?

Call 911 anyway, give the address and main danger in short clear phrases, and ask a safe local person to help communicate the street or landmark.

Official Mexican sources and related guides

Emergency and accuracy notice: This article is general information, not a live dispatch service or medical assessment. Mexico has local emergency responders and state-level weather and civil-protection procedures that can change. Emergency contacts and government guidance were reviewed on 5 November 2026. In an urgent emergency anywhere in Mexico, call 911 now.