Short answer. In Cyprus call 112 (free, operators speak Greek and English) or 199 for ambulance, police and fire 1. For shelter locations, call the Civil Defence Operations Control Centre on 22 403 451 or 22 403 452 2. For help with CY-Alert phone settings or the SafeCY app, call the government helpline 1450 3.
Which numbers should I know?
| Number | Service |
|---|---|
| 112 | Single European emergency number: ambulance, police, fire; free from mobile, fixed and public phones; operators speak Greek and English 1 |
| 199 | National emergency number: ambulance, police, fire 1 |
| 22 403 451 / 22 403 452 | Civil Defence Operations Control Centre: shelter locations 2 |
| +357 22 403 413 | Civil Defence General Headquarters, 23 John Kennedy, 1st floor, 2314 Lakatamia, Nicosia 4 |
| 1450 | Government helpline: CY-Alert phone set-up and SafeCY app support 3 |
Write these numbers on your family contact form, as the Civil Defence plan asks 5.
Which agencies are responsible?
- Cyprus Civil Defence Force (Δύναμη Πολιτικής Άμυνας), Ministry of Interior: shelters, sirens and CY-Alert 63. Website: gov.cy/moi-cd/en.
- CY-Alert, the national public warning system: gov.cy/cy-alert/en 7.
- Radiation Inspection and Control Service, Department of Labour Inspection: radiation emergency preparedness 8.
In March 2026 the Council of Ministers approved a bill on civil protection (ο περί Πολιτικής Προστασίας και Συναφή Θέματα Νόμος του 2026) creating a National Civil Protection Mechanism and a National Coordinator; it was to be tabled in Parliament 6. We did not check whether it has been adopted.
When should I call 112?
Call 112 or 199 for any emergency needing an ambulance, police or fire service 1. For questions about where your shelter is, use the Civil Defence Operations Centre or the SafeCY app instead 29, so emergency lines stay free.
How do I keep contacts reachable in a crisis?
The Civil Defence family plan includes a form for family and emergency contact information, and the kit list includes a mobile phone, charger and batteries 5. Keep a paper copy in your kit. See our family plan guide and the kit checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Is 112 free in Cyprus?
Yes, from mobile, fixed and public phones 1.
Do 112 operators speak English?
Yes, Greek and English 1.
Who do I call to find a shelter?
The Civil Defence Operations Control Centre on 22 403 451 or 22 403 452, or use the SafeCY app 29.
My phone does not receive CY-Alert tests. Who can help?
The government helpline 1450 3.
Sources
- Cyprus Civil Defence Force — Single European Emergency Call Number 112 (leaflet) — https://web.archive.org/web/2025/https://www.moi.gov.cy/moi/CD/cd.nsf/all/D1AFEBE916C56683C225858A002594F5/$file/112 Leaflet.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Δύναμη Πολιτικής Άμυνας — Ενέργειες Δύναμης Πολιτικής Άμυνας στην περιοχή Ακρωτηρίου — https://www.gov.cy/esoterika-themata/energeies-dynamis-politikis-amynas-stin-periochi-akrotiriou/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Cyprus Civil Defence — CY-Alert: Launch of the National Public Warning System — https://www.gov.cy/moi-cd/en/uncategorized/cy-alert-launch-of-the-national-public-warning-system/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Δύναμη Πολιτικής Άμυνας — Καταφύγια (Αυτοπροστασία) – Πληροφορίες Επικοινωνίας — https://web.archive.org/web/2025/https://www.moi.gov.cy/moi/cd/cd.nsf/selfprefuge_el/selfprefuge_el?opendocument (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Cyprus Civil Defence / Press and Information Office — Family Communication Emergency Plan (P.I.O. 41/2026) — https://www.gov.cy/media/sites/156/2025/12/English-familyPlan.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Υπουργείο Εσωτερικών — Δηλώσεις του Υπουργού Εσωτερικών κ. Κωνσταντίνου Ιωάννου για τα καταφύγια, τις αποφάσεις του Υπουργικού Συμβουλίου και την εφαρμογή SafeCY — https://www.gov.cy/esoterika-themata/diloseis-tou-ypourgou-esoterikon-k-konstantinou-ioannou-gia-ta-katafygia-tis-apofaseis-tou-ypourgikou-symvouliou-kai-tin-efarmogi-safecy/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Cyprus Civil Defence (CY-Alert) — Frequently Asked Questions - CY-Alert — https://www.gov.cy/cy-alert/en/frequently-asked-questions/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Department of Labour Inspection, Radiation Inspection and Control Service — Republic of Cyprus - Department of Labour Inspection - Radiation Protection (emergency preparedness) — https://web.archive.org/web/2025/https://www.mlsi.gov.cy/mlsi/dli/dliup.nsf/All/C87695C08DF0BBB2C2257E2A0024E998 (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Υπουργείο Εσωτερικών — Ενεργοποίηση εφαρμογής «SafeCY» για εντοπισμό του πλησιέστερου καταφυγίου Πολιτικής Άμυνας — https://www.gov.cy/esoterika-themata/energopoiisi-efarmogis-safecy-gia-entopismo-tou-plisiesterou-katafygiou-politikis-amynas/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
Your plan for Cyprus, worked out for your household.
- Water, food and equipment counted for each person and pet
- The nuclear plants and zones around your home
- Phaenyx Safe: one tap to tell your people you are safe
Sources
- Cyprus Civil Defence Force · Single European Emergency Call Number 112 (leaflet) checked 2026-10-20
- Δύναμη Πολιτικής Άμυνας · Ενέργειες Δύναμης Πολιτικής Άμυνας στην περιοχή Ακρωτηρίου checked 2026-10-20
- Cyprus Civil Defence · CY-Alert: Launch of the National Public Warning System checked 2026-10-20
- Δύναμη Πολιτικής Άμυνας · Καταφύγια (Αυτοπροστασία) – Πληροφορίες Επικοινωνίας checked 2026-10-20
- Cyprus Civil Defence / Press and Information Office · Family Communication Emergency Plan (P.I.O. 41/2026) checked 2026-10-20
- Υπουργείο Εσωτερικών · Δηλώσεις του Υπουργού Εσωτερικών κ. Κωνσταντίνου Ιωάννου για τα καταφύγια, τις αποφάσεις του Υπουργικού Συμβουλίου και την εφαρμογή SafeCY checked 2026-10-20
- Cyprus Civil Defence (CY-Alert) · Frequently Asked Questions - CY-Alert checked 2026-10-20
- Department of Labour Inspection, Radiation Inspection and Control Service · Republic of Cyprus - Department of Labour Inspection - Radiation Protection (emergency preparedness) checked 2026-10-20
- Υπουργείο Εσωτερικών · Ενεργοποίηση εφαρμογής «SafeCY» για εντοπισμό του πλησιέστερου καταφυγίου Πολιτικής Άμυνας checked 2026-10-20