Accidents and emergencies in Argentina

Emergency services in Argentina: the essential numbers

Argentina's national emergency framework is built around a single central number and a set of specialized lines, all published by the Argentine government's official emergency portal. Saving these numbers before you need them is the single most important preparation any expat can make.

The core numbers are:

• 911: Central de Emergencias Nacional, covering police and ambulance dispatch
• 100: Bomberos (firefighters)
• 103: Defensa Civil (civil defense, including assistance after earthquakes, floods, and chemical spills)
• 105: Environmental emergency
• 106: Nautical emergency and Prefectura Naval
• 107: SAME medical emergencies, available in the City of Buenos Aires (CABA) and locations in the Province of Buenos Aires
• 142: Missing children
• 144: Gender-based violence
• 145: Human trafficking and exploitation
• 137: Family and sexual violence
• 135: Suicide prevention

The 911 line is the primary contact point for life-threatening situations requiring police or ambulance response. When you call, keep yourself safe first, then give the operator your exact address, the nearest intersection or floor number, and on highways, the direction and lane. Describe any people or vehicles involved and, in accidents or fires, report the number of victims or anyone trapped. Do not intervene physically unless you have the relevant training.

Good to know:

The U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires publishes an after-hours emergency telephone number for U.S. citizens: +(54)(11) 5777-4354. Save this number alongside the national lines if you hold a U.S. passport.

Medical emergencies in Argentina

For a medical emergency in Argentina, 911 is the primary national dispatch line. In the City of Buenos Aires and parts of Buenos Aires Province, 107 connects directly to SAME (Sistema de Atención Médica de Emergencias), the city's dedicated ambulance service. The SAME service is specific to CABA and nearby areas of the province.

Emergency medical numbers are not uniform across the country. The Ministry of Health's DINESA guidance confirms that while many provinces use 107, the Province of Buenos Aires uses 911 for medical dispatch, and Neuquén uses 106. Expats living outside Buenos Aires should identify and save the correct local medical emergency number for their specific province as a priority.

When calling about a medical emergency on a public street or road, the DINESA recommendations ask callers to provide the exact address, the type of incident and injuries, the number of people involved, any risks to bystanders, and whether first aid such as CPR has already been started. Providing this information clearly and calmly helps dispatchers send the right resources faster.

Roadside emergencies in Argentina

Driving long distances in Argentina means crossing routes managed by different concession operators, and knowing the right contacts in advance avoids delays in a roadside emergency. For emergencies on national concessioned routes, Vialidad Nacional's route information page directs drivers to call 140. The Vialidad Nacional user attention service also operates two toll-free lines: 0800-222-6272 and 0800-333-0073.

For roadside mechanical assistance, the Automóvil Club Argentino (ACA) operates a network across the country. The ACA mechanical assistance service can be reached at 0800-777-2894 or by dialing *222 from a mobile phone. The ACA's general customer service line is 0800-888-9888, and international callers can use +54 911 5000-0000. ACA membership is required for roadside assistance coverage; non-members should check whether their vehicle insurance includes a roadside service before traveling.

For any accident involving injuries, call 911 first. Vialidad and ACA contacts cover road conditions and mechanical breakdowns; they do not replace emergency medical dispatch.

Fire emergencies in Argentina

The fire emergency number in Argentina is 100, connecting callers to the Bomberos (firefighters). This number is listed on the national emergencies portal and applies across the country.

If you are inside a building when a fire starts, the SINAGIR guidance recommends using a fire extinguisher only if you are trained to do so and can act safely. If the fire cannot be controlled, leave through the designated escape route immediately, keeping interior doors closed behind you. Do not re-enter the building until firefighters explicitly authorize it. If the exit is blocked by smoke, move low to the ground. If you cannot escape, seal yourself in a room and block the door gap to slow smoke entry.

For wildfires, the Ministry of Environment advises reporting smoke to local authorities immediately and observing fire-prevention rules: do not light fires outside designated areas, and do not discard cigarettes or matches in vegetation.

If you are renting an apartment or house, ask your building administration for the evacuation plan and the location of fire extinguishers specific to your building. Fire safety code requirements in Argentina are set at the provincial and municipal level rather than nationally.

Police in Argentina

Police in Argentina are reached via 911. When you call, stay safe and provide your exact location first: street name, nearest intersection, building number, and floor. On highways, specify which direction you are traveling. Describe any suspicious individuals by clothing and any vehicles by color and license plate. If people are trapped or injured, report the number immediately.

In the City of Buenos Aires, expats can also report crimes through the Ministerio Público Fiscal CABA online reporting portal, which accepts online complaint forms. A free 24-hour phone reporting line is also available at 0800 33 FISCAL (347225). 

For tourists and expats in CABA, the Policía de la Ciudad operates a dedicated Tourist Police program called Buenos Aires Te Cuida. Tourist Police stations are located at Av. Corrientes 436 (San Nicolás) and Macacha Güemes 151 (Puerto Madero). The program operates 24 hours and can be reached by phone at (+549) 115050-9260. The Buenos Aires City government notes that many officers on this program have language skills, including English, Portuguese, Italian, and Russian, making it a practical first contact point for expats who need to report a theft or a lost passport in CABA.

Natural disasters in Argentina

Argentina's geography exposes different parts of the country to different hazards: seismic activity in the Andean west, flooding in the Pampas and northeast, and severe weather events across a large range of climates. The national framework for managing these risks is coordinated through SINAGIR, which published the Plan Nacional para la Reducción del Riesgo de Desastres 2025-2029 in April 2026.

In any natural disaster involving structural collapse, earthquake, flooding, or chemical spill, call 103 (Defensa Civil), which coordinates medical assistance, shelter, and food supplies for affected populations. This number is listed on the national emergencies portal for exactly these scenarios.

For earthquake monitoring, the Instituto Nacional de Prevención Sísmica (INPRES) maintains a real-time page of recent seismic events across Argentina. Expats living in Mendoza, San Juan, or other Andean provinces should familiarize themselves with INPRES as a reference point.

The most practical preparation tool for weather-related alerts is the official SMN app ("SMN: Tiempo y Pronóstico") published by the Servicio Meteorológico Nacional. Available on Google Play, the app sends notifications when you are in an area under a weather alert and provides forecasts at 24, 48, and 72-hour intervals. 

Embassy and consular services in Argentina

In a serious emergency, your country's embassy or consulate can provide practical support, including emergency travel documents, contact with family members, and referrals to local services. Keep your embassy's contact details saved separately from your phone in case your device is lost or stolen.

The U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires can be reached at +(54)(11) 5777-4533 during business hours. The after-hours emergency line for U.S. citizens is +(54)(11) 5777-4354, published on the U.S. Department of State Argentina page.

The British Embassy Buenos Aires handles emergency contacts through GOV.UK, where an online contact form is available for urgent consular assistance.

For Canadian citizens, the Government of Canada's embassy and consulate page for Argentina directs readers to call the embassy in Buenos Aires for urgent consular help and also provides access to the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa. The page was last modified in March 2026.

Expats from other countries should contact their relevant consulate directly. Most major embassies maintain a 24-hour emergency line for their nationals in genuine crises such as accidents, serious illness, disappearances, and arrest. These lines are not intended for visa applications, document legalization, or routine administrative requests.

Lost or stolen documents in Argentina

If your passport or other documents are lost or stolen in Argentina, the process involves two parallel steps: filing a police report and contacting your embassy or consulate.

In the City of Buenos Aires, you can file a complaint online through the Ministerio Público Fiscal CABA reporting portal, or by calling the free 24-hour line 0800 33 FISCAL (347225). Online complaint filing has been confirmed for CABA; if you are in another province, check with the local police station or fiscal office about available reporting methods.

In CABA, the Tourist Police (Buenos Aires Te Cuida) at (+549) 115050-9260 can assist with lost passport cases 24 hours a day and connect you with the appropriate resources.

Once you have filed a report, contact your embassy. The U.S. Embassy after-hours emergency line +(54)(11) 5777-4354 covers urgent consular situations, including theft and document loss. British nationals can apply for an Emergency Travel Document (ETD) through GOV.UK; the ETD application process indicates the document is typically ready to collect 2 working days after it is requested, at a cost of GBP 125.

Keep digital and physical copies of your passport photo page, visa, and any Argentine residency documentation stored separately from the originals. Email copies to yourself or a trusted contact so they remain accessible even if your devices are stolen.

Crime and personal safety in Argentina

For any crime in progress or immediate threat to personal safety, call 911. For specific situations, Argentina's national emergency framework provides dedicated lines that ensure calls reach the right support service directly.

Gender-based violence is covered by line 144, which is free, national, and operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Línea 144 app also allows contact by phone, WhatsApp, and email.

Human trafficking and exploitation can be reported on line 145, which is free, national, and operates 24/7. Reports on this line can be made anonymously. The Línea 145 page recommends providing location details, descriptions of individuals, vehicles, and any schedules observed.

Family and sexual violence support is available on line 137, which also operates 24/7 with a WhatsApp contact available at 11-3133-1000. The Línea 137 service provides assistance and accompaniment for victims.

In CABA, the Tourist Police (Policía de la Ciudad) provides a 24-hour point of contact for expats who need assistance after a crime, including theft. Their stations at Av. Corrientes 436 and Macacha Güemes 151 are reachable at (+549) 115050-9260.

Mental health crisis in Argentina

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or having thoughts of suicide, call 135. This is Argentina's national suicide prevention line and is listed on the government's official emergencies portal.

The Centro de Asistencia al Suicida (CAS) operates the following lines:

• 135: Free from CABA and Greater Buenos Aires
• (011) 5275-1135: Available from the Buenos Aires metropolitan area
• 0800 345 1435: Free nationwide

The CAS's phone line is operational from 8:00 to 0:00. If you need support outside those hours, 135 remains available as the national line. Crisis lines in Argentina operate primarily in Spanish; if you need support and face a language barrier, contact your country's embassy or consulate to ask for a referral to a mental health professional with the relevant language capacity.

Useful apps and resources in Argentina

A few digital tools help expats in Argentina access emergency services and safety information faster.

The official weather alert app from the Servicio Meteorológico Nacional, "SMN: Tiempo y Pronóstico," is available on Google Play. The app provides official forecasts and pushes notifications when you are in an area under a weather alert, covering severe weather at 24, 48, and 72-hour ranges. This is the most reliable tool for tracking storms, floods, and heat alerts across Argentina's varied regions.

The Línea 144 app, published by the Argentine government, allows victims of gender-based violence to contact the national support line by phone, WhatsApp, or email directly from their device. It is available through the Argentina.gob.ar applications page.

In CABA, the Buenos Aires Te Cuida program provides a QR-based safety resource that links to the Tourist Police chat function, the 911 line, and the online complaint portal. It is designed specifically for visitors and expats navigating the city.

For locating an after-hours pharmacy (farmacia de turno) outside Buenos Aires, the Cámara de Farmacias de Mendoza maintains a duty pharmacy listing by district for the Mendoza region. In other provinces, similar listings are typically published by local pharmaceutical associations or municipal websites.

Good to know:

Argentina does not currently operate a national emergency app comparable to a unified GPS-linked crisis service. The primary contact method across the country remains the phone lines listed above. Save the numbers relevant to your location before you need them.

Frequently asked questions about emergencies in Argentina

What is the main emergency number in Argentina, and what services does it cover?

911 is Argentina's Central de Emergencias Nacional, covering police and ambulance dispatch. The national emergency portal also lists separate numbers for firefighters (100), civil defense (103), and the SAME medical service in CABA and Buenos Aires Province (107). For a life-threatening situation requiring police or paramedics anywhere in the country, 911 is the number to call first.

Is 107 the ambulance number everywhere in Argentina?

No. While many provinces use 107 for medical emergencies, the Ministry of Health's DINESA guidance confirms that Buenos Aires Province uses 911 for medical dispatch and Neuquén uses 106. Expats should save the correct medical emergency number for the specific province where they live, as the national 107 does not apply uniformly across Argentina.

What information should I give when calling 911 in Argentina?

Keep yourself safe first, then provide your exact location: street name, nearest intersection, and building number or floor. On a highway, give the route name and which direction you are traveling. Describe any suspicious individuals by clothing and vehicles by color and license plate. If there are injuries or people trapped, report the number immediately so the right resources are dispatched.

Can I file a police report online in Buenos Aires City?

Yes. The Ministerio Público Fiscal CABA offers an online complaint form through its reporting portal, as well as a free 24-hour phone line at 0800 33 FISCAL (347225). Online reporting is confirmed for CABA. Expats in other provinces should contact their local police station or fiscal office to confirm what reporting methods are available in that jurisdiction.

Is there a dedicated Tourist Police in Buenos Aires, and do they speak English?

Yes. The Buenos Aires City government operates a Tourist Police division (Policía de la Ciudad) through the Buenos Aires Te Cuida program. Stations are located at Av. Corrientes 436 and Macacha Güemes 151 in central Buenos Aires, and the service operates 24 hours. The program notes that many officers have language skills including English, Portuguese, Italian, and Russian. The contact number is (+549) 115050-9260.

What number should I call to report human trafficking or exploitation in Argentina?

Call 145. The Línea 145 is free, operates nationwide 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and allows anonymous reports. The line covers situations involving trafficking and exploitation and accepts calls with any relevant details about locations, individuals, or vehicles involved.

What number should I call for domestic or sexual violence support, and is WhatsApp available?

Call 137 for family and sexual violence assistance. The line operates 24/7 and also accepts contact via WhatsApp at 11-3133-1000. The service provides assistance and accompaniment for victims. The gender-based violence line 144 is a separate resource available through the same national emergency framework.

How do I get official weather alerts on my phone in Argentina?

Install the official "SMN: Tiempo y Pronóstico" app from the Servicio Meteorológico Nacional, available on Google Play. The app sends push notifications when your location falls under an active weather alert and provides official forecasts at 24, 48, and 72-hour ranges. It is the primary official tool for tracking severe weather across Argentina.

What should I do if I have a mental health crisis or suicidal thoughts in Argentina?

Call 135, Argentina's national suicide prevention line. The Centro de Asistencia al Suicida also operates (011) 5275-1135 and the toll-free nationwide line 0800 345 1435. The CAS phone line operates from 8:00 to 0:00. If you need support outside those hours or face a language barrier, contact your country's embassy or consulate for a referral.

Who should I call if I have an emergency on a national highway in Argentina?

For emergencies on concessioned national routes, Vialidad Nacional directs drivers to call 140. The Vialidad user attention service also operates two toll-free lines: 0800-222-6272 and 0800-333-0073. If there are injuries, call 911 first. For mechanical breakdowns, the ACA mechanical assistance line is 0800-777-2894 or *222 from a mobile phone.

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