Turkey operates a unified emergency number system accessible throughout the country. Dialing 112 from any phone connects to the Emergency Health Services (Acil Sağlık Hizmetleri), which coordinates ambulance dispatch and emergency medical response. This number functions 24 hours across all 81 provinces and connects callers to operators who speak Turkish, with English-speaking operators available in major cities including Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, and Antalya. The 112 system consolidated what were previously separate emergency numbers in 2017, creating a single point of contact for medical emergencies. Ambulances dispatched through 112 are staffed with paramedics trained to Ministry of Health standards and equipped with basic life support equipment. Response times average 12-15 minutes in urban centers but extend to 30-45 minutes in rural Anatolia and mountainous regions of eastern Turkey.
Police assistance in Turkey divides between two separate forces with different contact numbers. Dialing 155 reaches the Turkish National Police (Emniyet Genel Müdürlüğü), which operates within city boundaries and handles urban crime, traffic accidents, and general law enforcement in provincial centers. The Gendarmerie (Jandarma), reached at 156, maintains jurisdiction in rural areas, small towns, and border regions, functioning as a military force under the Ministry of Interior for civilian law enforcement purposes. In Istanbul, the police operate district stations (karakol) in each of the city's 39 districts, with the main headquarters on Vatan Caddesi in Fatih. Ankara's police headquarters sits on Atatürk Bulvarı in the Sıhhiye neighborhood. Tourist police units exist in major destinations including Istanbul (in Sultanahmet), Antalya, Bodrum, and Cappadocia, staffed with officers who communicate in English, German, and Russian. These units specifically handle crimes against tourists and operate from May through October in coastal resort towns, with year-round service in Istanbul and Ankara.
Fire services respond to calls placed to 110, connecting to the municipal fire brigade (itfaiye) serving that particular city or district. Istanbul operates 111 fire stations distributed across both the European and Asian sides, with the central coordination center in Fatih. The Istanbul Fire Department employs approximately 2,800 firefighters and maintains specialized teams for maritime fires on the Bosphorus and earthquake rescue operations. Ankara's fire service runs 32 stations with 1,200 personnel. Fire brigades in Turkey also respond to traffic accidents requiring extrication, building collapses, and natural disasters including earthquakes. Average response time in Istanbul ranges from 8-12 minutes depending on traffic conditions. Coastal cities including Izmir, Antalya, and Bodrum maintain marine firefighting units with boats stationed in harbors. The fire service number 110 routes calls based on the phone's location to the appropriate municipal brigade.
The Coast Guard (Sahil Güvenlik) responds to maritime emergencies along Turkey's 8,333 kilometers of coastline spanning the Black Sea, Aegean, and Mediterranean. Dialing 158 connects to coast guard coordination centers in Istanbul (controlling Bosphorus and Black Sea), Izmir (Aegean operations), and Mersin (Mediterranean zone). The coast guard operates 145 patrol boats, 23 helicopters, and maintains 85 stations along the coastline. Response times for vessels in distress average 45-60 minutes in heavily trafficked areas like the Dardanelles and Bosphorus, extending to 2-3 hours for incidents far offshore. The Istanbul coast guard station at Ahırkapı in Fatih coordinates approximately 350 rescue operations annually in the Bosphorus Strait alone. Maritime emergencies include vessel fires, collisions, person overboard situations, and disabled craft. The coast guard also monitors distress frequencies on VHF Channel 16 and maintains digital selective calling watch on Channel 70.
Forest fires in Turkey fall under the jurisdiction of the General Directorate of Forestry, which operates a separate hotline at 177. This number connects to the nearest forestry regional office, which dispatches teams of firefighters (orman yangın söndürme ekipleri) and coordinates with Turkish Air Force aircraft for aerial water drops. Turkey experiences approximately 2,500-3,000 forest fires annually, with the majority occurring between June and September in coastal pine forests of the Aegean and Mediterranean regions. The forestry service maintains 185 fire towers (gözetleme kulesi) staffed during fire season and deploys 82 helicopters equipped with water buckets. Major forest fire coordination centers operate in Antalya, Muğla, and Izmir provinces, which contain Turkey's most fire-prone landscapes. Citizens can report smoke or fire sightings to 177, which operates 24 hours during fire season (typically May 15 through October 15) and business hours during winter months.
Earthquake response in Turkey coordinates through AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency), which operates a national helpline at 122. This number connects to provincial disaster coordination centers in all 81 provinces, with major facilities in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Van, and Erzurum. AFAD coordinates search and rescue teams, temporary shelter establishment, and distribution of emergency supplies following earthquakes. Turkey sits on multiple active fault lines including the North Anatolian Fault, which runs 1,500 kilometers from the Aegean Sea to eastern Anatolia and produces earthquakes capable of magnitude 7.0 or greater. Istanbul faces particular seismic risk from the North Anatolian Fault where it passes underwater through the Sea of Marmara approximately 20 kilometers south of the city. AFAD maintains 17 search and rescue teams trained in urban collapse situations, equipped with acoustic detection devices, trained rescue dogs, and hydraulic rescue tools. Following the February 6, 2023 earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş province, which killed more than 50,000 people across Turkey and Syria, AFAD coordinated international rescue teams from 75 countries who arrived within the first 72 hours.
Embassies and consulates provide assistance to foreign nationals during emergencies, though their capacity to intervene varies by situation type. The United States Embassy in Ankara operates an American Citizens Services unit reachable at +90-312-455-5555, with a consulate general in Istanbul at +90-212-335-9000. British nationals contact the British Embassy in Ankara at +90-312-455-3344 or the British Consulate General in Istanbul at +90-212-334-6400. The Canadian Embassy in Ankara maintains an emergency line at +90-312-409-2700. These numbers function 24 hours for genuine emergencies including arrest, hospitalization, death, or evacuation situations. Consular staff can contact family members, provide lists of local lawyers, visit detained citizens, and issue emergency travel documents, but cannot override Turkish law, post bail, provide legal representation, or evacuate citizens except in extreme circumstances involving war or civil collapse. The German Consulate General in Istanbul (+90-212-334-6100) serves approximately 50,000 German citizens residing in Turkey and handles substantial case volume. Australian citizens contact their embassy in Ankara at +90-312-459-5000.
Poison control in Turkey operates through the National Poison Information Center (Ulusal Zehir Danışma Merkezi), reached at 114. This service connects callers to toxicology specialists at Ankara's Refik Saydam Hygiene Center who provide guidance on poisoning cases 24 hours daily in Turkish and English. The center maintains a database of approximately 100,000 substances including medications, household chemicals, plant toxins, and animal venoms found in Turkey. Operators can identify appropriate antidotes, recommend initial treatment steps, and direct callers to the nearest hospital with toxicology capabilities. In 2022, the center fielded approximately 75,000 calls, with common causes including medication overdoses, carbon monoxide exposure, pesticide ingestion, and scorpion stings in southern provinces. Serious poisoning cases require transport to hospitals with intensive care units, located in provincial capitals. Istanbul University's Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty operates one of Turkey's primary toxicology treatment centers.
Traffic accidents on Turkey's highways and urban roads generate approximately 1.2 million police reports annually, with roughly 6,000 fatalities recorded in 2022. Following an accident, Turkish law requires drivers to contact police (155 in cities, 156 on rural highways) before moving vehicles except when blocking traffic creates immediate danger. The traffic police (trafik polisi) document accident scenes, measure skid marks, photograph vehicle positions, and interview witnesses. In Istanbul and Ankara, traffic police stations maintain dedicated accident investigation units. Drivers must exchange insurance information at the scene using the standard accident form (kaza tespit tutanağı) required by Turkish insurance companies. Turkey operates under a mandatory insurance system requiring third-party liability coverage (zorunlu trafik sigortası) for all registered vehicles. Hit-and-run accidents must be reported within 24 hours. Rental car companies operating in Turkey typically require police reports for any damage claims.
Crime reporting in Turkey follows different procedures depending on offense type. Victims of theft, assault, or property crime in cities report to the nearest police station (karakol), which exists in virtually every neighborhood of major cities. Istanbul maintains approximately 260 police stations across its municipal area. Filing a report (suç duyurusu) requires presenting identification and providing a written or typed statement (ifade). Police issue a numbered report document (şikayet belgesi) necessary for insurance claims and legal proceedings. Serious crimes including sexual assault, robbery, and violent attacks trigger immediate investigation by criminal investigation departments (Cinayet Büro Amirliği). Sultanahmet, Taksim, and other tourist-heavy areas of Istanbul see dedicated tourist police who speak foreign languages and understand tourist-specific crime patterns including taxi overcharging, counterfeit goods, and accommodation disputes. Foreigners should request copies of all police reports in both Turkish and English when possible.
Medical emergencies requiring immediate hospitalization should trigger calls to 112, but patients with non-emergency medical needs can proceed directly to hospital emergency departments (acil servis). Public hospitals in Turkey's universal healthcare system accept all emergency patients regardless of insurance status or ability to pay, though non-citizens receive bills after treatment. Istanbul's largest public emergency departments include Haseki Training and Research Hospital in Fatih, Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kırdar City Hospital on the Asian side, and Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital in Şişli. Ankara's primary public emergency facilities include Ankara City Hospital (one of Europe's largest hospital complexes with 3,704 beds), opened in 2019, and Numune Training and Research Hospital. Private hospitals offering emergency services with English-speaking staff include American Hospital in Nişantaşı, Istanbul (established 1920), Acıbadem hospitals at 25 locations across Turkey, and Medical Park facilities in major cities. Private emergency room visits cost 3,000-8,000 Turkish lira depending on treatment provided. International insurance cards accepted at private facilities include those from Cigna, Allianz, Bupa, and AXA.
Psychiatric emergencies in Turkey can be reported to 112, which dispatches ambulances to transport individuals experiencing acute mental health crises to hospital psychiatric units. Istanbul houses several psychiatric hospitals including Bakırköy Mazhar Osman Mental Health and Neurological Diseases Training and Research Hospital, established 1924, with 575 beds and a 24-hour emergency psychiatry service. Erenköy Mental and Neurological Diseases Training and Research Hospital on Istanbul's Asian side provides similar emergency psychiatric evaluation. Ankara University School of Medicine operates an adult psychiatry clinic with emergency services. Turkish law permits involuntary psychiatric hospitalization when individuals pose immediate danger to themselves or others, requiring evaluation by two psychiatrists and approval from a judge within 24 hours. Family members can initiate emergency psychiatric evaluation by contacting 112 or bringing the individual directly to a psychiatric emergency department.
Sexual assault survivors in Turkey can contact hospitals directly for medical care and evidence collection without police involvement, though hospitals will inform patients of the option to file police reports. The Istanbul Protocol, developed by Turkish physicians at Istanbul University in 1999 and adopted by the United Nations, establishes international standards for documenting torture and assault. Istanbul's hospitals trained in forensic sexual assault examination include Haseki Hospital's forensic medicine department and Göztepe Training and Research Hospital. Turkey operates women's counseling centers (kadın danışma merkezi) in provincial capitals, providing psychological support and legal guidance for assault survivors. The National Women's Hotline at 183 connects women experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault to counselors 24 hours daily in Turkish, with calls free from any phone. This service can coordinate emergency shelter placement through municipalities operating women's shelters (kadın konukevi) in 63 provinces.
Lost or stolen passports require immediate reporting to both local police and the traveler's embassy or consulate. Police stations issue theft reports (hırsızlık tutanağı) necessary for embassy processing of emergency travel documents. The U.S. Consulate in Istanbul typically issues emergency passports within 2-3 business days for citizens with documented proof of identity and police reports, charging $140. British emergency travel documents cost £100 and require appointment scheduling through the consulate website. Canadian emergency passports cost CAD $110. Travelers should photograph their passport identification page before arrival in Turkey and store copies separately from the original document. Turkey's e-government system allows foreign residents with Turkish identification numbers to report lost documents online through e-devlet.gov.tr, though tourists must report in person at police stations.
Child-related emergencies in Turkey including lost children should be reported immediately to police at 155. Tourist sites including Istanbul's Grand Bazaar, Topkapi Palace, and coastal resort areas maintain internal security staff who can coordinate with police when children separate from parents. Shopping malls in major cities operate lost child protocols, announcing descriptions over public address systems and monitoring exits. Turkish citizens generally assist foreign families searching for separated children. Children requiring emergency medical care follow the same 112 system as adults, with pediatric emergency departments operating at major hospitals. Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty includes a specialized pediatric emergency department, as does Ankara City Hospital's children's wing. Turkish law requires reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect to police or Social Services Child Protection Agency (Sosyal Hizmetler Çocuk Esirgeme Kurumu).
Natural disaster warnings in Turkey disseminate through AFAD's mobile alert system, which sends SMS messages to all phones in affected areas during earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, or major storms. The Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute in Istanbul, operating since 1868, monitors seismic activity and issues earthquake reports within 2-3 minutes of significant tremors. Tsunami warnings for coastal areas follow earthquakes in the Mediterranean or Aegean capable of generating waves, transmitted through sirens in coastal towns and fishing harbors. Turkey's Meteorological Service (Meteoroloji Genel Müdürlüğü) issues severe weather warnings for flash floods, heavy snow, and windstorms through its website mgm.gov.tr and mobile application. Black Sea coastal provinces including Trabzon and Rize experience rapid-onset flooding during heavy rainfall, while central Anatolian provinces including Kars and Erzurum face winter blizzards closing mountain passes including the Zigana Pass between Trabzon and Gümüşhane.
Aviation emergencies at Turkey's 56 airports operate under protocols established by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (Sivil Havacılık Genel Müdürlüğü). Istanbul Airport maintains a 24-hour operations center coordinating emergency response including aircraft accidents, medical emergencies aboard aircraft, and security incidents. The airport's fire service includes 12 specialized aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles stationed at strategic points around the runway system. Sabiha Gökçen Airport on Istanbul's Asian side operates similar emergency infrastructure. Passengers experiencing medical emergencies in flight on Turkish Airlines can access the airline's MedAire service, which connects flight crews to emergency physicians via satellite phone for medical guidance. Turkish Airlines requires passengers needing supplemental oxygen during flight to notify the airline 48 hours before departure and provide medical certificates from physicians.
Terrorism incidents in Turkey should prompt immediate evacuation from the affected area and calls to police at 155. Turkey experienced terrorist attacks from multiple groups between 2015-2017, with incidents in Istanbul, Ankara, and southeastern provinces. The Turkish government maintains terrorism alert systems and deploys security forces to tourist areas, transportation hubs, and government buildings. Following any explosion or attack, authorities establish security perimeters and restrict access to affected areas. Foreign nationals should contact their embassies following any terrorist incident in their vicinity. The British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office maintains Turkey-specific security updates at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey. The U.S. Department of State issues security messages for Turkey through its Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Travelers should avoid demonstrations and large gatherings, which Turkish police frequently disperse using water cannons and tear gas.