canary islands 112 emergency multilingual

112 Canarias: Emergency services in over 50 languages

Emergency assistance in 50+ languages

The Canary Islands’ Emergency Coordination and Security Centre (CECOES) 112 is now providing direct assistance in five languages — Spanish, English, German, Italian and French — and offering support in over 50 additional tongues through a multi-platform system. The initiative aims to ensure comprehensive coverage for the archipelago’s large foreign population, both residents and visitors.

According to a statement released this Thursday by the Canary Islands Government, this multilingual system positions the islands’ emergency service as an exceptional benchmark compared with other services in Spain and Europe. It enables effective communication in critical situations for those who do not speak Spanish.

13,487 English calls in 2025 alone

The Deputy Minister for Emergencies, Marcos Lorenzo, highlighted that in 2025 alone, the 112 Canarias service handled 13,487 calls in English, one of the main languages used by tourists and international residents across the islands. He also noted that since 2020, emergency services have assisted 63 Australian nationals for various reasons, as part of a broader strategy to serve foreign citizens.

Lorenzo added that the strengthening of multi-language support reflects the reality of the Canary Islands as an international destination, with a high volume of visitors and residents from a wide range of nationalities.

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