Hotline 112 activated to handle incidents and disasters. — Illustrative photo.

HÀ NỘI — A new nationwide emergency hotline – number 112 – has been officially launched to strengthen Việt Nam’s capacity to respond to incidents, natural disasters and urgent requests for assistance.

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on Monday signed a decision to bring the service into operation. The hotline will play a vital role in ensuring that emergency information is received and handled swiftly.

The hotline connects directly to provincial-level military commands, including those in Hà Nội and HCM City, and links with existing emergency services: 113 for police, 114 for fire and rescue, and 115 for medical emergencies. It also ties into the Việt Nam Maritime Communication Station system and civil defence networks.

Through the number, people nationwide can report accidents, natural disasters or other threats, providing details such as the time, location, scope of damage and requests for support. Reports received via the hotline are sent without delay to local military commands and, if needed, to the National Civil Defence Steering Committee for further action.

The Ministry of National Defence has been tasked with managing and operating the hotline. Telecom providers are required to connect their networks to the system, keep personal data secure and ensure all calls, texts and multimedia messages to 112 are free of charge.

Civil defence forces are required to remain on 24/7 standby to respond to emergencies. Any failure to handle information in line with regulations could result in legal responsibility. — VNS