by InTrieste
A new official website dedicated to Europe’s single emergency number, 112, went live today. The portal, 112.gov.it, offers a comprehensive, multilingual resource aimed at informing the public about the emergency number’s coverage, use, and accessibility across Italy.
The launch coincides with the anniversary of June 21, 2010, when Italy activated its first centralized emergency response center (Centrale Unica di Risposta, or CUR) for 112 in Varese, Lombardy.
Designed with an intuitive interface, the site explains how emergency calls are received and processed. It details the role of the CURs, which handle initial emergency communications before forwarding them to specialized agencies such as the police, firefighters, coast guard, or medical responders.
One new feature highlights “Most Common Emergencies,” providing users with practical advice on managing initial emergency situations while awaiting assistance. Another section shares quarterly data on emergency calls, including total calls received, those forwarded to responders, and calls filtered out as non-urgent.
The site also includes an interactive link to the “112Sordi” service, catering to deaf and hard-of-hearing users nationwide and managed by the Piedmont region.
Additionally, the website promotes the “Where Are U” app, developed by the Lombardy region and supported by all CURs. The app uses GPS to accurately locate users during emergencies, facilitating faster and more precise dispatch of aid. Available for free on iOS and Android, the app also supports silent or text-based communications through a chat feature.
The development of the website was led by the Public Security Department of the Italian Ministry of the Interior, with funding from the European Union’s Next Generation EU program.
