3,427,333 Calls Made to 112 Emergency Hotline in 2024

Yoana Vodenicharova

Marina Velinova, head of the National System 112 Directorate at the Interior Ministry (BTA Photo/Nikola Uzunov)

Sofia,

11.02.2025 13:09

(BTA)

The 112 emergency hotline received 3,427,333 calls in 2024, 8.9% fewer than in 2023, Marina Velinova, head of the National System 112 Directorate at the Interior Ministry, told reporters here on Tuesday ahead of an event marking European 112 Day.

Specific requests for help totalled 2,055,265, Velinova said, adding that an average of over 9,000 calls were handled daily at the district centres. In her words, the system can locate a caller to an accuracy of 5 metres.

More false calls were received in 2024 than those logged in 2023.

Velinova said that the number of calls for police assistance has increased, with 6% more alerts about offences against the person. While the number of alerts to the fire service has decreased, fire alerts have gone up. There were 613 cross-border emergency calls, mostly seeking medical or transport assistance.

More than 4,000 traffic accident alerts were logged, but half of them were hoax. Since 2017, an e-call service has been in place, allowing modern vehicles to contact emergency services in the event of a road traffic accident. The system identifies the accident location, vehicle make, and fuel type.

The 112 emergency line is also accessible for people with hearing and speech impairments through a dedicated app.

The Directorate employees' work is highly responsible and dynamic, involving great public expectations, Deputy Interior Minister Toni Todorov said.

Diyan Ganev, supervisor at the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service Coordination Centre, praised the 112 system staff for their professionalism and noted that 47 emergency air missions have been carried out so far.

Later on Tuesday, 112 system staff members from Kardzhali, Burgas, Sofia, Montana, Ruse, Varna were honoured for their service at the event marking European 112 Day.

/LG/