Emergency numbers in Austria: 112, 122, 133, 144 and more

Short answer. In Austria, emergency calls are free from any phone, and 112 also works from a locked mobile phone ¹. The main numbers are 112 (European emergency number), 122 (fire brigade), 133 (police) and 144 (ambulance) ¹. Civil protection is run by the Interior Ministry's Federal Warning Centre with the state warning centres; radiological emergencies are handled by the BMLUK ²³⁴.

Which numbers should I call in Austria?

All the numbers below are listed on the official oesterreich.gv.at portal ¹.

Emergency numbers are free, and 112 works even when your mobile phone is locked ¹.

How do I reach the state warning centres?

Each federal state has a warning centre. The number depends on the state ¹:

Is there an emergency-call option for deaf people?

Yes. Police can be reached by SMS or fax on 0800 133 133 ¹. DEC112 is the official text-chat emergency-call app for deaf and hard-of-hearing people ¹.

Which agencies run civil protection in Austria?

• Interior Ministry (BMI) – Federal Warning Centre (Bundeswarnzentrale) / SKKM runs civil protection with the state warning centres, which trigger warnings ³²⁵. Website: https://www.bmi.gv.at/204/start.aspx
• AT-Alert, the BMI's cell broadcast warning system ⁵. Website: https://www.bmi.gv.at/204/at-alert/start.aspx
• BMLUK radiological emergency website, for nuclear and radiological events ⁴: https://www.notfallschutz.gv.at/
• Austrian Civil Protection Association (ÖZSV), which publishes household preparedness advice ⁶: https://www.zivilschutz.at/

How warnings work is explained on our Austria alerts page.

What should I write down in advance?

Keep this list on paper as well as in your phone: in a long power cut, phones run flat and networks may fail. Add your family's contacts, your doctor and a meeting point. See How do I make a family emergency plan? and Which documents and how much cash to keep for an emergency?.

Frequently asked questions

Is 112 or 144 better for a medical emergency in Austria?

Both are listed official numbers: 144 is the ambulance and 112 the European emergency number ¹.

Can I call 112 without unlocking my phone?

Yes. 112 also works from a locked mobile phone ¹.

What is 1450?

It is the health hotline, listed among Austria's official numbers ¹.

Who do I contact about a nuclear accident?

Follow ORF and the BMLUK site notfallschutz.gv.at ⁴; in a life-threatening situation, call 112 ¹. See our iodine page.

Sources

1. oesterreich.gv.at — Notrufnummern — https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/de/themen/notfaelle_unfaelle_und_kriminalitaet/notrufnummern (accessed 2026-10-20)
2. Bundesministerium für Inneres (BMI) — Warnung und Alarmierung — https://www.bmi.gv.at/204/skkm/warnung.aspx (accessed 2026-10-20)
3. Bundesministerium für Inneres (BMI) — Bundeswarnzentrale — https://www.bmi.gv.at/204/skkm/bundeswarnzentrale.aspx (accessed 2026-10-20)
4. oesterreich.gv.at (content responsibility: BMLUK; last updated 16 Feb 2026) — Verhalten bei radiologischen Notfällen — https://oesterreich.gv.at/themen/notfaelle_unfaelle_und_kriminalitaet/katastrophenfaelle/1/Seite.29500321.html (accessed 2026-10-20)
5. Bundesministerium für Inneres (BMI) — AT-Alert — https://www.bmi.gv.at/204/at-alert/start.aspx (accessed 2026-10-20)
6. Österreichischer Zivilschutzverband (Zivilschutzverband Steiermark edition, hosted by Gemeinde St. Anna am Aigen) — Der krisenfeste Haushalt – Bevorraten — https://www.st-anna-aigen.gv.at/fileadmin/red_gem/Brosch%C3%BCre_Bevorratung_ZSV_3618.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)