Colombia Emergency Number 123: Police, Ambulance, Fire and Crisis Lines

If you are in an emergency in Colombia, call 123 first. It is Colombia's main emergency number for police, ambulance, fire, accidents, crimes in progress, and other urgent safety situations.

The short version: dial 123, say where you are, say what is happening, and stay on the line. If the situation is not a general emergency but involves extortion, gender-based violence, a child at risk, or mental health support, Colombia also has specialist lines worth saving before you need them.

This guide was fact-checked against official Colombian government, police, city health, and embassy sources on May 17, 2026.

Colombia Emergency Numbers To Save

Save these numbers before you need them. For immediate danger, injury, fire, or a crime in progress, start with 123 and follow the dispatcher.

Important correction if you have an old emergency list saved: the official National Police extortion page now directs people needing immediate GAULA attention to 165, not 147.

How To Call 123 In Colombia

Colombia's national emergency system treats 123 as the single number for emergency and security services. A national Funcion Publica page describes 123 as the line that lets people access state emergency and security services for free, 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Call 123 for a medical emergency, a fire, a gas leak, an accident with injuries, a robbery in progress, an active threat, or any urgent situation where you need police, ambulance, fire, or rescue help.

Do not rely on 911 in Colombia. Some phones or roaming networks may try to translate emergency dialing behind the scenes, but the official number published for Colombia is 123. In a real emergency, do not waste time testing 911.

When To Use Specialist Lines

GAULA 165: extortion and kidnapping threats

Call 165 if someone is threatening you for money, claiming a family member has been kidnapped, demanding payment, or pressuring you not to contact anyone else. The National Police extortion page says people who need immediate attention should call the free 165 line to be assisted by a GAULA investigator in their jurisdiction.

This matters for foreigners because virtual kidnapping and extortion-style phone scams are designed to create panic. If someone claims they have a friend, partner, driver, or family member and demands money, get off the call when you safely can, try to contact the supposed victim directly, and call 165 for guidance.

Line 155: violence against women

Call 155 for orientation and support related to violence against women, domestic violence, or gender-based violence. A 2025 Police/SALVIA information sheet describes 155 as a free, confidential, nationwide, 24-hour service for legal orientation and psychological first aid for people experiencing gender-based violence.

If there is immediate physical danger, call 123 as well.

ICBF 141: children and adolescents at risk

Call 141 for child or adolescent protection, emergency, and orientation. ICBF lists 141 as a free national line available 24 hours a day.

Use it when a child or teenager is abandoned, missing, abused, exploited, in immediate family risk, or needs urgent protection support. If there is immediate danger, call 123 too.

Mental health lines in Bogota and Medellin

In Bogota, call 106 for free mental health support. Bogota's health secretariat lists Linea 106 as free from cell phones and landlines, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

In Medellin, call 106, 604 444 44 48, or use WhatsApp 301 604 4444 and choose Salud. Medellin's Linea Amiga page describes it as free psychological orientation 24/7 for residents of the district.

If someone may hurt themselves or another person right now, call 123 first and ask for emergency help.

Police, Ambulance, And Fire In Major Colombian Cities

For foreigners, the useful city-by-city answer is simpler than many old emergency-number lists make it sound: call 123 first.

Bogota routes emergencies through 123. Medellin describes 123 as the city's Numero Unico de Emergencias, coordinating medical emergencies, mobility, fire, police, prosecutors, and other agencies. In Cartagena, Cali, Barranquilla, Santa Marta, Pereira, Manizales, and other cities, call 123 unless a local authority has given you a specific direct line.

Older lists often repeat numbers such as 119 for firefighters or 132 for ambulance/SAMU. Some may still route in specific places, but current official fire and emergency pages for major cities often point residents back to 123. For a visitor or new resident, the cleaner and safer instruction is: use 123 first, then follow the dispatcher.

If You Are Robbed In Colombia

If the robbery is happening now, someone is injured, or there is an active threat, call 123.

1. Move to a secure place.
2. Block stolen cards and phone accounts.
3. File a police report, called a denuncia.
4. Contact your embassy if your passport was stolen or you need consular help.
5. Save the report number for insurance, passport replacement, or visa records.

Do not chase a thief. A phone, bag, or wallet is not worth turning a completed theft into a violent confrontation.

Embassy Emergency Contacts

Embassies do not replace Colombian emergency services. If you need police, ambulance, or fire response, call 123 first. Contact your embassy after you are physically safe, or if the emergency involves arrest, hospitalization, death, a missing person, passport loss, or severe crime affecting one of its citizens.

For U.S. citizens, the U.S. Department of State lists +57 601 275 2000 for the U.S. Embassy in Colombia and +57 601 275 4021 after hours. The State Department's Colombia travel information also tells U.S. citizen crime victims to dial 123 for local police and then contact the embassy for assistance.

For Canadians, the Government of Canada lists local Colombian emergency services as 123 and lists the Embassy of Canada in Bogota at +57 601 657 9800. For British citizens, GOV.UK routes emergency contact through the British Embassy Bogota emergency contact form. For Australians, the Australian Embassy in Bogota lists the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre as +61 2 6261 3305 from outside Australia.

Save This Before You Need It

Create one contact named Emergency Colombia and add 123, 165, 155, 141, your embassy emergency contact, your building security or front desk number, and a trusted local contact.

In your notes app, save your full address, neighborhood, nearest cross street, nearest landmark, building entry instructions, health insurance provider, policy number, passport number, and a photo of your passport ID page.

FAQ

❓ What number do you call for police in Colombia?

Call 123 for police emergencies in Colombia. It is the main emergency number for crimes in progress, threats, accidents, and urgent public safety situations.

❓ What number do you call for an ambulance in Colombia?

Call 123 for an ambulance in Colombia. The dispatcher can route the case to the correct medical emergency response for your city or municipality.

❓ Does 911 work in Colombia?

Do not rely on 911 in Colombia. Dial 123 directly because that is Colombia's official emergency number.

❓ What is the GAULA number in Colombia?

For immediate extortion or kidnapping-related attention, the National Police directs people to the free GAULA line 165.

❓ What is Line 155 in Colombia?

Line 155 is a free, confidential, 24-hour nationwide line for people experiencing violence against women or gender-based violence. If you are in immediate physical danger, call 123 too.

Official Sources Checked

This article was refreshed on May 17, 2026 using official Colombian government, police, city health, and embassy sources.

• Funcion Publica: Linea unica de emergencias Nacional 123
• Decreto 4366 de 2006: NUSE 123
• Policia Nacional: GAULA 165
• Policia Nacional / SALVIA: Linea 155
• ICBF: Linea 141
• Secretaria Distrital de Salud de Bogota: Linea 106
• Alcaldia de Medellin: Linea Amiga
• U.S. Department of State: Colombia travel information
• Government of Canada: Colombia emergency services and embassy
• GOV.UK: British Embassy Bogota