Taipei City Fire Department

1991 Safety Hotline
Q1: What is the purpose of the 1991 Safety Hotline?
When a major disaster occurs the telecommunication systems in the disaster-stricken area are often damaged or overwhelmed by the volume of calls and even cause the emergency 119 to shut down. After studying similar systems around the world, the government established this hotline to provide residents a way to inform their family and friends of their safety.
Q2: How do I use the 1991 Safety Hotline?
You may dial 1991 from a landline phone, cell phone, or public phone and then proceed according to the voice instructions. After entering the designated phone number, you may leave a message. Your family or friends may dial 1991 and follow the instructions to listen to this message.
Q3: What is meant by “designated phone number”?
The designated phone numbers must be registered by dialing 1991 first, and remembered by your family and friends. It can be your residential number (including area code) or cell phone number.
Q4: Will I be charged for using the 1991 Safety Hotline?
Yes, 1991 is a toll phone service. It costs NT$1 per minute if using a pay phone. It is charged as a local call if calling from a landline. For cell phones, rates vary.
Q5: How many voice messages can I leave? How long will these messages be kept?
You may store up to 10 voice messages for each designated phone number. The 11th message overwrites the first one and so on. All messages will be kept for 10 days.
Q6. When is the 1991 Safety Hotline available to the public?
It is open to the public generally, or when the Central Emergency Operation Center (hereinafter referred to as Emergency Operation Center) decides this service is necessary as in the above situations, when it will be announced on the Disaster Page of the website of the Ministry of the Interior.
Q7. Can I use an Internet phone to dial 1991?
No, Internet phones may not be used.
Q8. Can I dial 1991 to listen to messages anywhere?
You may dial 1991 directly to listen to voice messages throughout Taiwan (including the islands of Penghu, Kinmen and Mazu), but you cannot dial 1991 from abroad to hear messages.
Q9. What languages are available?
Currently Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka, and English.
Q10. After the 1991 hotline is opened to the public, can I dial 1991 directly to leave or hear a message throughout Taiwan?
Although the 1991 hotline supports up to 200,000 phone calls per hour, it is still limited, therefore please avoid unnecessary calls. In order to prevent waste, the voice message hotline will be opened to residents of disaster-stricken areas. These will be listed on the disaster page of the official website of the Ministry of the Interior, and residents of other areas will also be able to listen to messages.
Q11. Can I use 1991 to request disaster rescue?
No, 1991 has no operator and is only for families and friends to inform each other of their safety. For disaster rescue, please call 119 or 110.
1991 Safety Hotline
Online Message Board
Q1. What are the websites for the 1991 safety online message board and for cell phones?
Both have the same website - http://www.1991.tw
Q2. Will I be charged for using the message board?
The message board itself is free. Regular Internet service /charges?? apply. For more information, please contact your Internetservice provider.
Q3. Can I record voice messages on the message board from a cell phone?
No, such service is not yet available.
Q4. Which cell phones work with the 1991 message board?
Currently, it supports iPhone, Android phones, and Windows Mobile 6.5 phones.
Q5. Can I listen to messages online from abroad?
Yes, you may listen to messages online anywhere that Internet service is available.
Q6 Can I download the messages online?
No. To avoid inappropriate applications, you are not allowed to download the messages online.