Bucharest is a safe city for visitors, but it pays to know a few practical things before any incident. The only number you must memorise is 112.
Emergency number: 112
112 is the single national emergency number — police, ambulance, fire. It's free from any phone, including without a SIM card, and answers in several languages. Call it only for real situations.
When you call, the operator will ask where you are, what happened and how many people are affected, so try to give a street, a landmark or a metro station even if you don't know the exact address. Stay on the line until the operator says you can hang up. Romania also supports reaching 112 by text message for people who cannot speak on the phone, and there is an official mobile app that can send your location to the dispatcher — useful if you are unsure where you are.
Earthquakes — important, not alarmist
Bucharest is considered one of the European Union capitals most exposed to earthquakes, because of the Vrancea seismic zone and its many old, unconsolidated buildings. The 4 March 1977 earthquake (magnitude ~7.2) killed more than 1,400 people in the city. The risk is real, so the simple rules matter:
- If you're indoors during the shaking: drop, take cover under a sturdy table and hold on to it. Stay away from windows and anything that can fall.
- Don't run for the stairs and don't use the lift while it's shaking.
- If you're outdoors, stay outdoors, in an open space, away from buildings, wires and trees.
- After the quake, expect aftershocks and leave any damaged building carefully.
A little preparation goes a long way. Know where the safest spots in your flat are (under sturdy furniture, against an interior load-bearing wall), keep heavy objects off high shelves above beds, and have a small kit within reach: water, a torch, a power bank, copies of documents and any essential medication. Many of the city's most vulnerable buildings carry a red dot marking high seismic risk; it's worth being aware which category your building falls into, without letting it become a source of anxiety.
Alerting: RO-ALERT and the DSU app
RO-ALERT sends warning messages straight to your phone via Cell Broadcast — no app required, reaching everyone in the targeted area. Note: for earthquakes RO-ALERT does not warn before the event, but it can broadcast protective measures afterwards. The DSU (Department for Emergency Situations) app provides news and alerts for your location. This is useful alongside, not instead of, 112.
Because RO-ALERT uses Cell Broadcast rather than ordinary SMS, the message arrives as a loud alert on every compatible phone in the area at once, even if the network is congested — and you don't need to be subscribed to anything. Make sure emergency alerts are switched on in your phone's settings so you actually receive them. RO-ALERT is also used for severe weather, floods and other hazards, so an alert won't always mean an earthquake; read it before reacting.
Hospitals, police, fire
The city has hospitals with round-the-clock A&E and police stations in each sector, while ISU (the Emergency Situations Inspectorate) handles fires and rescue. For specific addresses and hours, always check the official sources — details change and we won't send you the wrong way.
For non-emergencies, there are alternatives that keep 112 free for real crises: pharmacies (many open late or non-stop) can advise on minor ailments, and a family doctor handles routine care once you are registered. Keep your travel or health insurance details handy, note the address of the nearest hospital with an emergency room to where you are staying, and remember that ambulances and fire crews, like everywhere, need a clear path — pull over when you hear a siren.
