10.02.2026 17:37
In Elazığ, Mardin, Şırnak, and Siirt, more than 50% of the calls received by the 112 Emergency Call Centers last year were unnecessary calls and false reports. The center received unbelievable reports such as, "I will prepare a bridal dowry, how is a dowry prepared?" and "I can't open the jar lid."
The 112 Emergency Call Center staff operates on a 24/7 basis to respond urgently to incidents based on incoming reports.
"HOW TO PREPARE A BRIDE'S TRAY, I CAN'T OPEN THE JAR'S LID"
In addition to important reports, the center also receives calls for reasons such as "I will prepare a bride's tray, how is it prepared?", "When will my flight depart?", "I had an argument with my spouse, am I right or wrong?", "I can't open the jar's lid."
MORE THAN 50% OF EMERGENCY CALLS ARE UNNECESSARY
The teams working selflessly are most exhausted by false reports and unnecessary calls. Although the number of false calls and unnecessary calls has decreased every year due to training and information activities, it was stated that in 2025, more than 50% of the calls received by the 112 Emergency Call Centers in Elazığ, Mardin, Şırnak, and Siirt were unnecessary calls.
235,000 OF 619,000 CALLS TURNED INTO CASES
Governor Numan Hatipoğlu stated that the 112 Emergency Call Center provided service to citizens without any issues last year and congratulated all the teams working selflessly day and night both in the center and in the field. Hatipoğlu expressed that most calls to the center were related to health and safety, saying, "In 2025, our friends received 619,000 calls, of which 235,000 were legitimate calls. The percentage of false calls and calls that were closed while being answered is 38.24%."
Hatipoğlu noted that emergency calls also come from vehicles and that disabled citizens also make emergency calls, stating that the staff is racing against time to respond to every call as quickly as possible.
THEY CALLED SAYING "I AM IN LOVE PAIN"
Hatipoğlu pointed out that a false call can sometimes delay intervention in an emergency case, stating, "A fine of 18,000 lira is imposed on individuals for false reports. Similarly, for calls that are closed upon opening or similar issues, an administrative fine of 1,800 lira is applied. There were those who called to request the continuation of the support we provided to citizens over 65 during the pandemic. There are calls like 'My shoes are stuck on the roof, let the fire department come.', 'The honey I ordered from the television doesn't taste like honey, help me.', 'I am in love pain, I want to talk.' We advise our citizens not to call 112 for unnecessary matters."
Governor Hatipoğlu stated that the 112 Emergency Call Center Directorate continuously informs citizens in schools, courses, and public education centers about using this service correctly and conducts training activities.
FELL TO 68% IN MARDIN
Mardin 112 Emergency Call Center Director Hülya Karaboğa stated that this line offers many facilities together, and that citizens with hearing impairments and related speech and language disorders can have video calls with expert personnel through an application they can download on their phones, and that they also provide foreign language support for tourists who do not speak Turkish.
Karaboğa explained that they provide training especially in schools and rural neighborhoods to promote the center and reduce false calls, stating that they visited 1,400 tradesmen in 2025 and held meetings with non-governmental organizations, inviting students to the center, which has led to a decrease in the rate of false calls.
Karaboğa noted:
"We receive more than 3,000 calls a day. In 2025, we received 1,215,246 calls to our center. The rate of false calls is approximately 68%. When we started operating in January 2019, our rate of false calls was around 96%. We have reduced this rate through field studies or imposed administrative fines, but it is still not sufficient. We want to further reduce this rate with our efforts. Because 112 is an emergency help line, not a line for unnecessary calls. Last year, approximately 200,000 lira in fines were imposed on 76 individuals for unnecessarily occupying the 112 Emergency Call Center. We ask citizens not to call the 112 Emergency Call Center unnecessarily and to warn those who do. If we occupy this line unnecessarily, people in emergency situations may not be able to reach it. One second means one life. Seconds are very important for us."
CALLED 112 BECAUSE THEY LOST A RING
Sultani Şimşek, a staff member at the center, stated that false calls and unnecessary calls keep them very busy. Şimşek mentioned that last year they received calls like "My ring is lost, let the fire department search with a detector.", "What time is it?"
Helin Ece also explained that the center receives a large number of false calls every day, saying, "We have grievances regarding false calls. We are also subjected to questions like 'I will prepare a bride's tray, how is it prepared?', 'When will my flight depart?'. We request our citizens to be more sensitive."
ŞIRNAK
Şırnak 112 Emergency Call Center Director Erhan Tatar stated that they responded to 549,377 calls last year, of which 350,000 were false reports.
Tatar noted that the rate of false reports, which was 71% last year, has decreased a bit this year, and they aim to reduce this rate to below 50%. He stated, "To prevent false calls, our staff provides awareness training in schools across the city. We will continue these trainings this year as well. Citizens are fined 1,882 lira for false reports and 18,823 lira for misdirecting teams."
Elanur Uçar, a staff member at the center, expressed that they try to assist citizens in emergency situations on a 24/7 basis, noting that especially young children unnecessarily occupy this line. He pointed out that this prevents citizens who genuinely need help from reaching the center and called on parents to be sensitive about this issue. Uçar said:
"People who have arguments with their spouses call a lot. They ask, 'I had an argument with my spouse, am I right or wrong?'. Children who do not do their homework call when their parents get angry, saying, 'My mom and dad got mad at me for not doing my homework, send the police to catch them.' There are those who ask, 'Why is there no electricity, when will it come?' or those who have network issues on their phones. We request citizens not to unnecessarily occupy the center."
SIIRT
Siirt 112 Emergency Call Center Director Sami Bozkurt stated that every call is treated as an "emergency situation" at the center, and the rate of unnecessary calls has decreased every year through information and training activities.
"In the year our center started operating in 2021, our rate of unnecessary calls was as high as 84%. With our promotional activities and the sensitive behavior of our citizens, this rate has decreased to around 72%, but this is still a very high rate." Bozkurt stated that they responded to 344,750 calls in 2025.
THEY REQUESTED A HELICOPTER TO TRANSPORT THE BEET SACKS
Başak Kılıçvuran, a staff member at the center, explained that they respond to every call with great sensitivity, noting that unnecessary calls keep them quite busy.
Kılıçvuran said, "There are those who say, 'My phone is broken, we called to test the sound.' An elderly gentleman said, 'My beet sacks are heavy, I need a helicopter urgently, can the gendarmerie come?' A citizen whose washing machine broke said, 'Please hurry.' There was also someone who called asking, 'I'm a stranger here, I heard about the büryan kebab, how much is it per kilo?'"
Havva Büyükkök stated that they work diligently to respond to important calls and relay them to the relevant units, explaining that they terminate unnecessary calls without forwarding them to the relevant units.
Büyükkök mentioned that they race against seconds to reach emergency cases, noting that there are those who call to ask for directions, and some who ask, "I can't open the jar lid, can the fire department come?" She indicated that there are people who make unnecessary calls like this throughout the day.