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More than 62% of calls made to Istanbul's 112 emergency call centers during the first eight months of 2025 were determined to be unfounded, according to data released by the city's governorate.
The Istanbul Governor's Office reported that emergency operators handled 10,621,042 calls between January 1 and August 31, with only 3,977,852 resulting in actual emergency responses. The remaining 6,643,190 calls — representing 62.5% of all emergency contacts — required no intervention.
Despite the high volume of non-emergency calls, the average response time for legitimate medical emergencies remained at 9 minutes and 25 seconds, officials said.
The governorate highlighted the critical impact of unnecessary calls on emergency services, noting that early intervention saves lives in genuine emergencies. In a statement posted on social media, officials emphasized that the problem persists despite administrative sanctions and public warnings.
"We request that our citizens do not occupy 112 Emergency Call Centers with unnecessary calls," the governorate stated.
Türkiye's 112 system serves as the primary emergency hotline for medical, fire, and police emergencies, similar to 911 in the United States. The service operates around the clock across the country's 81 provinces.
The issue of non-emergency calls burdening emergency services is not unique to Istanbul. Emergency call centers worldwide face similar challenges, with operators receiving calls ranging from minor complaints to requests for information that could be obtained through non-emergency channels.
The governorate's announcement included audio recordings of some unfounded calls to illustrate the scope of the problem. Officials did not specify what penalties might be imposed for misuse of the emergency system.
Istanbul, home to more than 15 million residents, represents Türkiye's largest metropolitan area and economic center. The city's emergency services must coordinate responses across both the European and Asian sides of the Bosphorus strait.
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