Short answer. In Spain, 112 is the single emergency number for all emergencies, run by each autonomous community 12. Civil protection is shared between the State and the autonomous communities; since April 2026 the State level is the Secretaría General de Protección Civil y Emergencias of the Ministry of the Interior, which oversees the national coordination centre CENEM 34.
Which numbers should you know?
| Number | What it is for |
|---|---|
| 112 | All emergencies; managed by the autonomous communities 12 |
| 012 | Generalitat de Catalunya information line, free call (Catalonia only) 1 |
If you are deaf or speech-impaired, the Ministry of the Interior's AlertCops app gives access to medical, police and fire services through two-way messaging, since December 2019. It complements 112; it does not replace it 2.
Write these numbers on paper and keep them with your kit; see our guide on important documents.
Which authorities are responsible?
| Authority | Role |
|---|---|
| Secretaría General de Protección Civil y Emergencias (Ministry of the Interior) — https://www.proteccioncivil.es/ | State level of civil protection since April 2026; includes the Dirección General de Protección Civil y Emergencias 34 |
| Centro Nacional de Seguimiento y Coordinación de Emergencias (CENEM) — https://www.proteccioncivil.es/coordinacion/cenem | National emergency monitoring and coordination centre; runs the National Alert Network 4 |
| Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear (CSN) — https://www.csn.es/ | Advises the director of each provincial nuclear emergency plan on off-site radiological consequences and proposes protective measures 5 |
| Protecció Civil de Catalunya (Generalitat) — https://interior.gencat.cat/ca/arees_dactuacio/proteccio_civil/ | Regional civil protection for Catalonia 1 |
Each of the other autonomous communities runs its own civil protection service and 112 centre 12. Phaenyx's data file lists Catalonia only.
What changed in April 2026?
Royal Decree 328/2026 of 22 April modified the structure of the Ministry of the Interior. The State civil protection level became the Secretaría General de Protección Civil y Emergencias, which absorbed the functions of the former Dirección General and oversees CENEM 3. Older documents may still name the Dirección General.
Where do you follow an emergency?
The public map of the National Alert Network (https://ran-vmap.proteccioncivil.es/) shows earthquakes, AEMET adverse weather warnings and forest fire risk, updated every five minutes 4. Alerts reach phones through ES-Alert; see Emergency alerts in Spain.
Frequently asked questions
What is the emergency number in Spain?
112, for all emergencies, run by each autonomous community 12.
Who handles nuclear emergencies?
Provincial nuclear emergency plans, whose directors are advised by the Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear 5.
Can deaf people contact emergency services?
Yes, through the AlertCops app since December 2019, which complements 112 2.
What is CENEM?
The national emergency monitoring and coordination centre of the Ministry of the Interior, which runs the National Alert Network 4.
Sources
- Generalitat de Catalunya, Departament d'Interior i Seguretat Pública — Prepara't per a les emergències — https://interior.gencat.cat/ca/arees_dactuacio/proteccio_civil/consells_autoproteccio_emergencia/preparat_per_les_emergencies/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Secretaría General de Protección Civil y Emergencias (Ministerio del Interior) — Interior actualiza Alertcops para facilitar el acceso de personas con discapacidad auditiva a los servicios de emergencia — https://www.proteccioncivil.es/-/interior-actualiza-alertcops-para-facilitar-el-acceso-de-personas-con-discapacidad-auditiva-a-los-servicios-de-emergencia (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado — Real Decreto 328/2026, de 22 de abril, por el que se modifican el Real Decreto 1009/2023 y el Real Decreto 207/2024 (estructura orgánica del Ministerio del Interior) — https://www.boe.es/eli/es/rd/2026/04/22/328 (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Secretaría General de Protección Civil y Emergencias (Ministerio del Interior) — RAN (Red de Alerta Nacional) — https://www.proteccioncivil.es/coordinacion/redes/ran (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado — Real Decreto 1546/2004, de 25 de junio, por el que se aprueba el Plan Básico de Emergencia Nuclear (texto consolidado) — https://www.boe.es/eli/es/rd/2004/06/25/1546/con (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
Your plan for Spain, 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
- Generalitat de Catalunya, Departament d'Interior i Seguretat Pública · Prepara't per a les emergències checked 2026-10-20
- Secretaría General de Protección Civil y Emergencias (Ministerio del Interior) · Interior actualiza Alertcops para facilitar el acceso de personas con discapacidad auditiva a los servicios de emergencia checked 2026-10-20
- Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado · Real Decreto 328/2026, de 22 de abril, por el que se modifican el Real Decreto 1009/2023 y el Real Decreto 207/2024 (estructura orgánica del Ministerio del Interior) checked 2026-10-20
- Secretaría General de Protección Civil y Emergencias (Ministerio del Interior) · RAN (Red de Alerta Nacional) checked 2026-10-20
- Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado · Real Decreto 1546/2004, de 25 de junio, por el que se aprueba el Plan Básico de Emergencia Nuclear (texto consolidado) checked 2026-10-20