Which number should I call in Croatia?

112 for any emergency. It is free, works from any phone and any network, and operators answer in several languages. If you need a specific service, 192 is the police, 193 the fire brigade, 194 the ambulance and 195 search and rescue at sea.

How do I check whether a road is closed?

Through the Croatian Auto Club's live road status, linked below. During a fire or a storm, closures change through the day and navigation apps lag behind, sometimes by hours.

Where do I find the current wildfire situation?

The meteorological service publishes the daily fire danger index for Croatia, the firefighting association reports active operations, and Copernicus EFFIS shows the European picture including burnt areas. All three are linked below.

Safety in Croatia

Safety and emergencies in Croatia

This page collects what matters in an emergency in Croatia: the numbers to call, where the authorities publish current warnings, and what to do before help arrives. It carries no advertising and links only to official sources.

Emergency numbers

112 works from any phone, in any network, free of charge, and operators answer in English and other languages. If you are unsure which service you need, call 112.

112European emergency numberAny emergency, answered in several languages 192PoliceCrime, accidents, immediate danger 193Fire brigadeFire of any size, including in the open 194AmbulanceMedical emergencies 195Search and rescue at seaDistress on the water 1987Roadside assistanceBreakdowns, operated by the Croatian Auto Club

Wildfire

Fires spread fastest uphill and with the wind. On the coast the risk peaks from June to September, and the daily fire danger index is published by the meteorological service. During the season most counties restrict or ban open fire, and the rules are set locally, so check before you light anything at all.

Report any fire immediately on 193 or 112, even a small one, and even if you think someone else has called.
Move across the slope and away from the wind, never uphill ahead of the flames.
In a car: close the windows, switch the ventilation to recirculation, turn the headlights on and keep driving if you can.
In smoke, stay low and cover your mouth with a damp cloth.
Never fly a drone anywhere near a fire. Firefighting aircraft have to stop work while a drone is in the air.
Do not drive to a fire to look. Parked cars on narrow roads block fire engines.

Roads and closures

During a fire, storm or accident, sections of the coastal road and motorways can close at short notice, and the situation changes through the day. Navigation apps do not reflect these closures reliably. The Croatian Auto Club publishes the live status and is the source worth trusting before you set off.

Check the live road status before departure, not only your map app.
In summer the coastal road is the first to close and the last to reopen. The motorway inland is often the faster alternative.
Keep the right lane clear for emergency vehicles and form a rescue lane in standing traffic.

Bura, storms and the sea

The bura is a strong, gusty wind from the north-east that can arrive within minutes, especially in the Kvarner bay, under Velebit and around the Krk bridge. It cancels ferries and closes bridges for high-sided vehicles, caravans and motorcycles. Warnings are issued by the meteorological service and through Meteoalarm.

Check the warning level before an island trip. A cancelled ferry can strand you for a day.
Red and orange warnings mean bridge restrictions for caravans, trailers and motorcycles.
On the water, keep an eye on the forecast rather than the current sky. The bura arrives faster than most boats can return.

Earthquakes

Croatia is seismically active, as the earthquakes of 2020 in Zagreb and Petrinja showed. Most tremors are harmless, but the correct reaction is worth knowing in advance because it takes seconds.

During the shaking: drop, take cover under a solid table, hold on. Do not run outside while it lasts.
Stay away from windows, balconies, chimneys and facades. Most injuries come from falling material outside doorways.
After the shaking: leave the building calmly, use the stairs, never a lift, and keep clear of walls that may drop debris.
Expect aftershocks and do not re-enter a damaged building.

Heat and the beach

Heat is a more common medical emergency in a Croatian summer than any of the above. Midday temperatures at the coast regularly exceed the level at which unshaded activity becomes risky, and dehydration develops faster in the wind.

Watch children and older travellers first, they lose fluid faster and notice it later.
Sea urchins are the most frequent beach injury. Water shoes prevent almost all of them.
Swim near the shore when the flag or the wind indicates a current, and never swim alone at night.

Frequently asked questions

Which number should I call in Croatia?: 112 for any emergency. It is free, works from any phone and any network, and operators answer in several languages. If you need a specific service, 192 is the police, 193 the fire brigade, 194 the ambulance and 195 search and rescue at sea.
How do I check whether a road is closed?: Through the Croatian Auto Club's live road status, linked below. During a fire or a storm, closures change through the day and navigation apps lag behind, sometimes by hours.
Where do I find the current wildfire situation?: The meteorological service publishes the daily fire danger index for Croatia, the firefighting association reports active operations, and Copernicus EFFIS shows the European picture including burnt areas. All three are linked below.

Official sources

Live values such as fire danger, road closures and weather warnings are not repeated on this page, because they change by the hour. These are the authorities that publish them.

Checked: 16 August 2026