Emergency Numbers in Uzbekistan and What to Do in a Crisis

We hope you never need this, but it is useful to know the main contacts and the order of action in advance. In a difficult situation it matters to stay calm, and prepared information saves a lot of time. Below are the essentials. Numbers can change, so check they are current on official resources before your trip.

Main emergency numbers

Uzbekistan has short numbers for its services:

• 101 fire service;
• 102 police;
• 103 ambulance;
• 104 gas emergency service.

You can call from any mobile phone, including with no balance. When you call, state calmly and briefly what happened, the exact address or landmarks and your phone number. Dispatchers in large cities usually speak Russian and Uzbek. If you are unsure about the language, speak slowly and in simple words.

Tourist police

The country has a special unit that helps tourists, especially in Tashkent and the tourist cities. Officers try to help foreign guests: pointing the way, helping when belongings go missing, filing a report, contacting the right service. You can approach a uniformed patrol on the spot or go to a police station. Check current contacts and the number for tourists with your hotel or on the official tourism portal.

If you lose your passport

Losing your passport is unpleasant but fixable. The steps:

1. Do not panic and think about where you may have left it. Call the hotel, the taxi, the cafe.
2. Report to the police. Go to the nearest police station and get confirmation (a certificate or slip) that a report has been filed.
3. Contact your country's embassy or consulate. They will explain how to get a temporary document to return home.
4. Prepare copies. A photo or scan of your passport, visa and insurance will speed things up a lot, so save them in the cloud beforehand and send them to family.
5. Check registration and migration stamps. Find out whether they need to be restored before leaving the country.

Embassies and consulates

Many countries have missions in Tashkent. Find your embassy's contacts in advance and save them in your phone: address, phone, reception hours and the emergency number. If your country has no embassy in Uzbekistan, it may be represented from a neighbouring state, which is also best known before you travel.

If you need medical help

For a serious injury or a sudden deterioration, call 103. Otherwise, go to the clinic the hotel administrator recommends. Save your insurer's number and keep your policy on your phone and on paper. For more on health on the road, see our article about water, pharmacies and doctors.

Theft and scams

• Report to the police and get a document confirming the report, as insurance will need it.
• Block bank cards through your bank if a card is stolen or lost.
• Do not give SMS codes and card details to strangers, even if they introduce themselves as bank or service staff.
• Do not hand your passport or money to strangers. Only an authorised uniformed officer with ID checks documents.

Safety on the road

In a road incident, switch on the hazard lights, make sure everyone is unhurt, and call 102 and, if needed, 103. Do not leave the scene until you know help is on the way. If you are a passenger on a shared ride, report what happened through Yo'ldosh and keep the trip details, which will help with any investigation. Always wear a seat belt, including in the back seat.

On long routes like Tashkent — Samarkand it helps to send family the trip details and your arrival time. See all directions on the all routes page.

What to do before the trip

1. Save 101, 102, 103 and your embassy's contacts.
2. Make copies of your passport, visa and insurance.
3. Send family your route and accommodation contacts.
4. Arrange insurance.

Preparation takes half an hour, but in a difficult situation it saves hours and nerves.

Cover photo: ERCC - Emergency Response Coordination Centre, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons.