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LIVING IN ITALY

Who to call and what to say in an emergency in Italy

Just in case you have an emergency in Italy, here are the numbers to call and some of the phrases you might need to use.

Published: 26 August 2019 18:23 CEST
Updated: 5 April 2022 15:10 CEST
Who to call and what to say in an emergency in Italy
Who you need to call in case of an emergency in Italy. (Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFP)

Whether you live in Italy or are just visiting, knowing who to call in the case of an emergency is crucial to keeping you and those around you safe.

You can report anything on 112, the single European emergency number, whose operators will direct you to the relevant services.

But knowing the direct number to call could get you a faster response in a situation where time is critical.

Here are the main phone numbers you’ll need to report an emergency in Italy.

What is Italy’s equivalent of 999 or 911?

Within Italy, the general number for all emergencies – the equivalent of 999 in the UK or 911 in the US – is 113.

This nationwide number connects you to the state police (Polizia di Stato), the civil police force that will assist you not only if you’re reporting a crime but for any other kind of emergency too.

They’ll probably ask you the following questions:

  • What is your emergency? – Qual è la sua emergenza?
  • What happened? – Cosa è successo?
  • Can you give me the address/the coordinates? – Può darmi l’indirizzo/le coordinate?

READ ALSO: How to stay safe while travelling in Italy

Emergency workers of the Italian Voluntary Association of First Aid and Public Assistance “Croce Bianca” escort a retired man after an emergency call in Milan. (Photo by Miguel MEDINA / AFP)

Useful phrases

Help! – Aiuto!

Call the police – Chiami la polizia

Is there anyone here who speaks English? – C’è qualcuno qui che parla inglese?

There has been an accident – C’è stato un incidente

Someone has stolen my bag/wallet/phone – Mi hanno rubato la borsa/il portafoglio/il telefono

Please hurry – Fate presto, per favore

Who should you call about a fire?

To reach the fire service (Vigili del Fuoco), dial 115. 

Be aware that firefighters (pompieri) in Italy don’t just put out fires: they also lead searches, rescues and other first-response operations, so you can also call them to report anyone in need of immediate assistance – for instance, someone trapped in a flood or missing while hiking.

READ ALSO: What to do and what to avoid if you see a wildfire in Italy

Useful phrases

Fire! – Al fuoco!

Call the fire brigade – Chiami i pompieri

There’s a fire – C’è un incendio


Photo: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP

Who should you call for an ambulance?

To report a medical emergency (emergenza sanitaria), call 118.

They’ll ask you to describe the circumstances and, depending on the gravity of the situation, assign a colour code:

  • White (bianco): non-critical;
  • Green (verde): non-urgent;
  • Yellow (giallo): critical/urgent;
  • Red (rosso): emergency.

They’ll then dispatch the appropriate assistance to provide treatment at the scene and/or take you to the nearest hospital.

Useful phrases

Call an ambulance – Chiami un’ambulanza 

I need a doctor – Ho bisogno di un dottore

Take me to the emergency room – Portatemi al pronto soccorso

Some people are badly injured – Ci sono feriti gravi

He/she hit his/her head – Ha battuto la testa

He/she is unconscious – Lui/lei è svenuto/a

He/she isn’t breathing – Non respira 


Photo: Filippo Monteforte/AFP

Who should you call about an emergency at sea?

Italy’s coast guard (Guardia Costiera) can be reached at 1530.

The service handles search-and-rescue operations at sea, as well as assisting vessels in distress and protecting safety at ports and on beaches.

Who should you call about financial crimes?

To report suspected smuggling, counterfeiting, tax fraud, illegal employment or other economic crimes, call Italy’s finance police (Guardia di Finanza) on 117.

Example: think you’ve been ripped off by a restaurant that doesn’t display its prices and is refusing to give you a receipt for a sky-high charge? Threaten to denunciare them to these guys.

Who should you call for roadside assistance?

To request help on the road (soccorso stradale), dial 803 116 from an Italian phone or 800 116 800 from a foreign mobile.

You can also use one of the SOS phones located roughly every two kilometres along Italian motorways (press the button marked with a spanner for mechanical assistance, the red cross for medical aid).

You’ll be connected to the Automobile Club d’Italia (ACI), the national motorists’ organization, which provides breakdown assistance to any driver for a fee or free of charge to its members.

To report any other road emergency, such as an animal abandoned by the motorway, call 112 or 113 and ask for the Polizia Stradale, the unit in charge of policing Italy’s roads.

For traffic information, call 1518.

(Photo by ANDREAS SOLARO / AFP)

Useful phrases

My car won’t start – La mia macchina non parte

I’ve run out of fuel – Sono rimasto senza benzina

I have a flat tyre – Ho una gomma a terra

Smoke is coming from the engine – Il fumo sta uscendo dal motore

READ ALSO: 

Who should you call to report a child in danger?

Italy has a dedicated helpline for risks to children and adolescents (emergenza infanzia): to request help for yourself or someone else, dial 114.

You can also reach the service by chat, SMS, WhatsApp, email or by downloading its app: see 114.it for more details.

Who should you call to report an animal in anger?

Sadly it’s not unusual to come across abandoned animals in Italy. Whether you’ve found a malnourished dog or cat left outdoors or have witnessed mistreatment of a pet, you can report this to the authorities.

Every local health office (ASL) has a veterinary service (Servizio Veterinario dell’ASL) which you should notify if you find an abandoned animal. The contact details should be on your local ASL’s website.

If an animal is trapped, for example inside a hot car, or is in immediate danger you can also call the local police (vigili urbano). The number should be on your comune or regione‘s website, or you can call via your town or region’s main switchboard.

Animal abuse is a crime in Italy and cases can also be reported to the state police or the Carabinieri, the military police force that can assist with any emergency.

Who should you call about domestic abuse or stalking?

Report family violence or harassment via the free emergency helpline 1522.

Assistance is available 24/7 in Italian, English, Spanish, French or Arabic, including by online chat. 

Who should you call to report a gas leak?

If you smell gas or notice other signs of a leak (fuga di gas), alert gas company Italgas via the 24/7 helpline 800 900 999.

They’ll send an emergency technician to check for leaks, free of charge.

Who should you call about a forest fire?

As well as alerting the fire service, you can report wildfires directly to the Carabinieri’s forestry and environment unit on 1515.


Photo: Mario Laporta/AFP

It’s also the service to call about poaching, illegal construction, endangering protected species or any other offences against Italy’s environment.

If in doubt…

If you’re not sure who to speak to, call 112. You’ll be connected to the Universal European Emergency Services, who can direct you to the correct line. Depending on where in Italy you’re calling from, it may put you through directly to the Carabinieri, the military police force that can assist with any emergency.

The number is available free of charge everywhere in the EU from all phones, including mobiles, and you can call it even without credit or a valid SIM card. Assistance is available in multiple languages, including English.

You can also download an associated app, Where Are U, which automatically transmits your location from your smartphone to 112 operators; however, it only functions in certain regions of Italy (for more information, click here).

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ROME

Why Rome has been ranked among the least ‘smart’ cities in the world

A new global report ranks Italy's capital among the least 'smart' cities worldwide. What exactly does this mean?

Published: 9 April 2024 16:38 CEST
Why Rome has been ranked among the least 'smart' cities in the world

There are many things that make the Eternal City an enduring draw for millions of tourists every year, as well as for new residents – but modern innovations are not generally known to be among them.

So the results of a new study ranking Rome as among the least ‘smart’ cities in the world may not come as too much of a surprise to anyone familiar with it.

In fact, you might think this was appropriate enough for a city where people live amidst 3,000 years of history.

Still, Rome’s particularly low ranking at 133rd place out of 142 cities worldwide – placing between Sao Paolo and Lima – might also seem a little harsh.

The result was in stark contrast to other major European cities: Zurich in Switzerland took the number 1 spot, while Oslo, Geneva, Copenhagen, London and Helsinki all featured in the top ten.

READ ALSO: Milan and Rome ranked ‘worst’ cities for foreigners to move to – again

Madrid was ranked 35th, while Paris came in 49th place. Athens however scored less well, in 120th place, and the Bulgarian capital Sofia came 113th.

Italian cities rank poorly overall, as Milan – seen as Italy’s technological and business hub – came in at a lacklustre 91st, and the university city of Bologna came 78th.

What is this ranking?

The 2024 Smart Cities Index (SCI) is produced by the Smart Cities Observatory – part of the IMD’s Global Competitiveness Center – in partnership with the World Organization for Smart and Sustainable Cities (WeGO). 

Researchers combined real-world data and survey responses from residents of 142 cities around the world to show how technology allows cities to improve the quality of life of their population.

However, as the study’s authors point out, it is not just (or strictly) about the cities’ technological aspects.

The survey’s “balanced focus’” was also on “humane dimensions” of smart cities.

They include the overall quality of life, infrastructure, environment, health and safety, public transport, services available to the population, as well as governance.

READ ALSO: Why Milan is a much better city to live in than Rome

The ‘winners’ — cities that ranked the highest — are all “located in areas where social and economic environments are relatively predictable, even against the overall climate of global uncertainties,” the report states.

“They are also cities in which visible initiatives have been taken to facilitate the lives of citizens (e.g., by developing public transport networks or ‘eco compatible’ transport solutions), and to improve the overall ‘quality of life’.”

In that case, this survey seems similar to the many other ‘quality of life’ rankings in which Rome (and Milan) also fares badly every year.

The ranking ranges from ‘AAA’ for ‘smartest’ cities to ‘D’ — the lowest. Rome had a ‘CCC’ rating while Milan was awarded a ‘B’.

Interestingly, included in the survey are not only the best aspects of each city, but also the areas that its residents have designated as ‘priorities’ — that is, the ones that need improvement.

In Rome, the major concerns for residents were recycling, which was a priority for 64 percent according to the study, and public transport, for 62 percent.

Priorities highlighted also included road congestion and air pollution, which were factors bringing down the overall score for Milan, too.

Health services, school education and green spaces were not seen as issues for most Rome residents, meanwhile.

What do you think? Is this criticism justified and, if you live in Rome, do you find the positives outweigh the negatives? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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