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

Emergency in Spain right now? Dial 112. It is free and connects you with urgent medical, firefighting, police and rescue services anywhere in Spain, including the Balearic and Canary Islands. Give the exact location and immediate danger. If someone is unconscious, seriously injured, trapped, threatened or exposed to fire or floodwater, call now and read later.

This guide is written for residents, international students and visitors to Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Andalucía, northern Spain, the islands and smaller towns. The first sections are quick actions, followed by practical information about Spain’s regional 112 system, medical emergencies, crimes, flash flooding, wildfire, public warnings and communication in Spanish. National government sources updated as recently as 1 October 2026 were checked on 5 November 2026.

Quick answer: who to call in Spain

112 — general emergency response: the best number to remember for an ambulance, firefighters, police, road accident, urgent rescue or other serious danger. It works throughout Spain and is free from fixed and mobile telephones.
091 — Policía Nacional: urgent State Police assistance where relevant, including crimes and immediate public-safety threats.
062 — Guardia Civil: 24-hour emergency access to the Civil Guard; useful in areas under its responsibility. Call 112 if unsure which police force covers the incident.
061 — regional urgent health service: available in certain autonomous communities, not a uniform nationwide medical emergency number. Use 112 for an urgent medical incident anywhere.
016 — violence against women: confidential information, legal guidance, psychosocial support and referrals. WhatsApp 600 000 016 is also available, but it does not replace 112 for immediate police or ambulance response.
024 — national suicide-crisis support: free, confidential, 24-hour service for people in crisis and concerned family or friends. For immediate danger needing emergency responders, call 112.

Spain’s central government confirms 112 as the universal national emergency number, with regional call centres, free calls and access from mobile phones under specified conditions. See Spain Government — 112 emergency services, updated October 2026. Specialist services are confirmed at Guardia Civil — 062 and 112 and the official 016 support page.

The first minute: seven steps that work in Spain

Move to a safer position when you can. Stay away from fire, smoke, active traffic, steep unstable slopes, violence and rising water. Do not cross a flooded street to investigate.
Call 112. Do not search for the relevant regional fire or ambulance number while a person’s life is in danger.
Give the location first. Say the city or municipality, street name (calle), building number (número), floor (planta), apartment or door (piso/puerta) and any nearby landmark.
Explain what happened in one sentence. A person has collapsed, a motorbike crashed, someone has a weapon, or water is entering the ground floor.
Report people affected. Include breathing problems, unconsciousness, major bleeding, people trapped or those needing help to evacuate.
Answer every question and follow advice. Emergency professionals may guide CPR, an AED, safe evacuation or other first aid. Give only facts you know.
Make access possible. If safe, ask a helper to meet crews at the main building entrance, courtyard, road junction or signed motorway exit.

A useful opening: ‘Ambulance, please. A person is unconscious at Calle [street], number [number], [town], second floor, door B. My number is [telephone].’ In Spanish: ‘Necesito una ambulancia. Hay una persona inconsciente. La dirección es…’ You do not need flawless Spanish to provide a location and request urgent help.

How 112 works in Spain

Spain has one number but multiple emergency call centres. The government states that Spain’s autonomous communities and autonomous cities operate 19 regional 112 services. A caller in Galicia may speak with a different centre from one in Madrid or the Canary Islands, but both use the same national access number. The relevant centre coordinates emergency services under its regional arrangements.

Because regional arrangements vary, it is unhelpful to publish a single claim that every region has the same ambulance number, response procedure, language options or app. The safe universal instruction is straightforward: call 112, state where you are, and follow the local operator. The government confirms that 112 remains accessible from a mobile even if the caller’s own provider lacks coverage, if another suitable network is available. This is not satellite coverage; if there is no working mobile network at all, an ordinary phone still cannot make the connection.

Which service do you need in a real emergency?

Someone collapses or develops life-threatening medical symptoms

Call 112 for an emergency medical response. Signs include someone not breathing normally, unconsciousness, severe breathing problems, significant bleeding, suspected stroke symptoms, serious trauma or chest pain suggesting a heart attack. Describe the symptoms and the location; you do not need to know the diagnosis. The operator can guide first aid or direct the most appropriate response.

Ask nearby people to locate an AED if the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally. Follow dispatcher guidance about CPR and the device, as well as any training you have. Avoid giving food, water or medication to someone who is unconscious or unable to swallow safely. Keep entrances clear and update the operator if the person’s breathing or responsiveness changes.

There is a fire in an apartment, hotel, restaurant or factory

Call 112, raise the alarm and leave through a safe escape route. Do not use ordinary lifts during an active fire, and do not return to retrieve luggage or personal belongings. Close doors behind you if safe. If smoke blocks the corridor or the building’s only exit, tell the emergency service exactly which floor, room, staircase or window you are near and follow local fire instructions.

Old city-centre buildings and apartment courtyards may have several staircases and locked gates. An exact street number plus the correct doorway can be more useful than the name of a nearby attraction. If firefighters need to enter from a rear street, tell the operator which route is accessible.

Robbery, an assault, serious threats or a crime in progress

Get out of immediate danger and call 112. The National Police’s 091 and the Guardia Civil’s 062 can provide specific police emergency assistance, but 112 is appropriate when you do not know the jurisdiction. Give the address, what is happening and whether weapons or injuries are involved. Do not pursue an offender for a video or photograph.

For property crime that has already happened and no longer threatens anyone, reporting through the relevant police force’s official route may be appropriate. For a current violent attack, seeking emergency response comes before insurance paperwork or waiting to translate a written report.

A serious collision on an autovía or autopista

Call 112 for urgent injury, trapped occupants, fire or a dangerous obstruction. Give the motorway’s A- or AP-number where known, direction (sentido), nearest exit (salida), kilometre marker (punto kilométrico) and the nearest town. Move to a safe position away from traffic without crossing live lanes to gather details. Do not stand beside damaged cars where vehicles may strike them.

If a passenger may have severe neck or back injuries, do not move them unnecessarily unless immediate danger requires it; follow dispatcher advice. The Spanish emergency centre may coordinate medical, police and road services based on what you tell them.

Someone needs urgent rescue on a beach, coastal cliff or at sea

Dial 112 and explain whether the emergency involves a swimmer, small boat, cliff or other coastal hazard. Give the beach, harbour, vessel, nearest access point or reliable coordinates if available. Do not enter dangerous surf in an untrained rescue attempt. Stay at a safe marked access point to guide responders if requested.

Flash floods and DANA: do not drive into water

Heavy rain and DANA-related storms can create dangerous flash flooding in parts of Spain. Low bridges, ramblas (normally dry channels), underpasses, underground garages and ground floors can fill rapidly. A street that looks passable may conceal a deep current, open drain, displaced manhole or severe road damage. Do not drive, wade or ride a motorcycle across floodwater.

If authorities order evacuation, leave early by a safe approved route. If the surrounding streets are already flooded, do not venture into moving water simply to reach your car; follow local emergency instructions about safer shelter and access. Do not go into a basement to retrieve possessions, and do not operate electrical switches while standing in water.

Spain’s weather agency AEMET issues official meteorological warnings, but a rain forecast alone is not an instruction to evacuate. The 112 centres, regional civil protection and municipality provide incident-specific actions. When receiving a public warning, read which place is affected and whether the correct action is to leave, stay above the flood level or shelter away from external hazards.

What if an ES-Alert warning sounds on your phone?

ES-Alert is Spain’s national public-warning system based on Cell Broadcast. Authorities send messages through mobile-network antennas in threatened areas; compatible phones may sound loudly, vibrate and display the warning even when otherwise silenced. The technology does not require downloading an app or registering a phone number.

A real ES-Alert tells people what hazard is present, where the threat applies and what they should do. It may direct evacuation, movement away from water or sheltering during a hazardous release. Do not assume a warning always requires the same action. Check if the message says it is a drill, and follow the instructions and subsequent official updates if it is real.

The Spanish Civil Protection authority describes how ES-Alert works, its phone compatibility requirements, why a switched-off phone cannot receive messages, and the absence of any required app: Spain Civil Protection — ES-Alert public warning system. Be cautious of websites falsely requiring payment or personal data for emergency-alert registration.

Wildfires and summer heat

During a wildfire, follow the regional emergency service and municipality’s instructions, especially concerning road closures and evacuations. A fire can move quickly through dry vegetation and wind-driven smoke. Do not drive into a closed forest road to retrieve luggage, reach a holiday property or take photographs. If fire threatens people, call 112 and tell the operator about the nearest safe road entrance.

Severe heat can be particularly dangerous for older people, infants, outdoor workers and people with certain illnesses. Move someone with heat-related symptoms to a cooler place, start safe cooling and seek medical guidance. Confusion, collapse, seizures or severe symptoms can signal a medical emergency and warrant 112. Do not force drinks on someone who is unconscious or unable to swallow.

Mountain storms, snow and hiking emergencies

Spain’s mountains and rural areas can have rapid weather changes. A lost or injured hiker may need mountain rescue coordinated through 112. Give the trail, natural park, nearest refuge, elevation if reliably known, last trail sign or GPS coordinates and the accessible approach. Do not leave an injured companion in an exposed area without a reason or walk toward a dangerous cliff to gain phone signal.

A large storm, snow or landslide may close mountain roads quickly. Follow local authorities’ instructions and do not cross avalanche terrain or an unstable slope in an untrained rescue. Preparing with weather checks, charged communications and a shared route is useful long before an emergency happens.

016: confidential violence-against-women support

Spain’s 016 service supports women affected by gender-based or other violence and the people assisting them. It provides information, specialist psychosocial assistance and legal guidance. It can be reached by telephone, online chat, email and WhatsApp 600 000 016. The government says telephone support operates in numerous languages, with accessibility arrangements for communication disabilities.

016 does not replace urgent police dispatch. If an assault is happening, a person is trapped with an attacker or immediate serious injury is possible, call 112; the police emergency numbers are 091 and 062. Spain’s official 016 service can coordinate or direct emergency calls when necessary. The full scope, hours and support routes are at Ministry of Equality — telephone 016.

If someone cannot safely make a phone call during a threat, the authorities also describe the AlertCops application as an available way to send an emergency warning with location. Any app needs to be installed and working beforehand, and it should not delay a safer available route to urgent police help.

024: emotional and suicide-crisis support

024 is Spain’s free, confidential, national 24-hour suicide-crisis service, intended for people experiencing suicidal thinking or distress and concerned family or friends. It offers specialised listening, assessment, information and connection to appropriate support. It is not a substitute for a medical or police emergency response when a person faces immediate danger or serious injury.

The Spanish Ministry of Health says that cases of imminent serious danger should go directly to 112. If the situation is not an immediate life-threatening emergency, 024 can be an appropriate starting point for support. The official page Ministry of Health — 024 explains its role, online chat and accessibility resources.

How to explain a location in Spain

City or town: municipality, province and autonomous community where useful.
Street: calle, avenida, plaza or camino and the building number.
Flat: floor (planta/piso), door (puerta), block (bloque), entrance (portal) and staircase (escalera).
Motorway: A/AP route, direction (sentido), junction, exit or kilometre marker.
Rail or Metro: station, train line, platform, corridor or marked exit.
Beach or mountain: beach name, coastal access, refuge, path marker or exact position.
Callback: working telephone number and any road, gate or building restrictions.

Helpful Spanish words for an emergency call

‘¡Ayuda!’ — Help!
‘Necesito una ambulancia.’ — I need an ambulance.
‘Hay un incendio.’ — There is a fire.
‘Llame a la policía.’ — Call the police.
‘Una persona está inconsciente.’ — A person is unconscious.
‘No respira normalmente.’ — They are not breathing normally.
‘La dirección es…’ — The address is…
‘¿Habla inglés?’ — Do you speak English?

112 operators work through regional arrangements, so do not assume an English-speaking interpreter is instantly available everywhere. Speak clearly in short phrases, give the address, and ask for help translating the street name if safe. Save your accommodation address in Spanish before travel.

Five-minute preparedness for a Spanish household or visitor

Save 112 as the universal emergency number; label 016 and 024 as specialist support rather than emergency dispatch.
Write your full address, apartment floor, building portal and nearest safe road approach.
Know the fire exit, a meeting point and how emergency crews enter the building.
Review whether your area has risks from DANA-related flooding, wildfire, winter storms or coastal hazards.
Keep a torch, essential medicine, water, phone charger, identification and a means of receiving warnings.
Discuss evacuation support for young children, elders and people with disabilities.
Read ES-Alert messages carefully; no separate app registration is necessary for compatible phones.
Choose a family contact outside the immediate hazard area and a safe way to confirm everyone is accounted for.

Common mistakes to avoid

Searching for a special ambulance number when 112 can dispatch urgent medical services nationwide.
Assuming a regional 061 route will work identically in every autonomous community.
Trying to drive through a flooded underpass or rambla because it looks shallow.
Entering an underground car park to rescue a vehicle during flash flooding.
Treating 016 or 024 as though they directly dispatch armed police and ambulances.
Expecting ES-Alert to require a paid app or a phone-number registration.
Giving only ‘Barcelona’, ‘Madrid’ or ‘Valencia’ rather than the street, portal, floor and door.
Disregarding evacuation orders because a social-media weather screenshot is less alarming.

Frequently asked questions

Is 112 free throughout Spain?

Yes. The Spanish government confirms 112 is a free nationwide emergency service, usable from fixed and mobile telephones without a dialling prefix.

Can 112 work when my mobile provider has no coverage?

The service may connect through another available suitable mobile network. It does not create satellite or cellular coverage when no network signal exists at all.

Should I call 091, 062 or 112 for an emergency?

112 is the universal emergency route; 091 and 062 are police emergency contacts for the National Police and Guardia Civil. If unsure which service is responsible or several responders are needed, use 112.

Is 016 a domestic violence emergency number?

016 gives confidential information and specialist support. During an assault or immediate risk of physical harm, call 112, or the relevant urgent police line.

Does 024 send an ambulance?

024 provides suicide-crisis support and can help arrange referral where necessary. For an imminent threat to life requiring on-scene emergency services, call 112 directly.

Does an ES-Alert mean I have to evacuate?

Not always. Read the specific warning: some hazards require evacuation, while others may require sheltering or avoiding a location. Follow the issuing authority’s directions.

Official sources and further guides

Safety and scope: This article is general emergency guidance, not a dispatch service, medical assessment or replacement for local evacuation orders. National information reviewed on 5 November 2026. For an active emergency anywhere in Spain, call 112 immediately.