Practical · City services

Reporting a street problem in Asunción: who to contact

Sources checked 3 November 2026

A broken streetlight, a pothole and a tree across the road may share the same corner, but they do not necessarily share a reporting channel. Start with the problem you can see, then give the receiving office a location it can actually find. This guide covers public-space reports within Asunción, with official channels checked on November 3, 2026. It does not promise a repair date or replace an emergency response.

Elevated view of Calle Palma and surrounding downtown buildings in Asunción.
Calle Palma and downtown Asunción, photographed in March 2019. Illustrative city context, not evidence of a current service problem. Photo: Cmasi · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted for the web.

Choose the right first contact

For an ordinary municipal report, use Atención al Ciudadano: 0986 128 777 on WhatsApp. The city continued to publish this number in its September 17, 2026 notice. Explain whether the issue is a damaged road, a blocked public space or another municipal concern, and ask which department will receive it.

For a streetlight that is not working, start with ANDE. Its official service form explicitly accepts public-lighting reports. ANDE also lists 160, option 1, in its FAQ, and 0962 160 160 for its WhatsApp assistant Luz. A failed lamp does not by itself establish that the whole block has lost electricity. Describe the lamp rather than selecting a household outage automatically.

For a fallen tree, the municipal Dirección de Servicios Urbanos lists 0985 853 144. The number appears in both its April 15 storm-response report and the city's October storm guidance. A request to inspect a standing tree is different: explain that it is still standing when contacting citizen services.

Potholes: make the stretch of road identifiable

The municipality's Dirección de Vialidad handles street repairs. Its September 4, 2026 update also describes coordination with ESSAP over water leaks that damage pavement. If water is visibly flowing beside a pothole, include that observation. Do not diagnose an underground pipe or assume the repair belongs to only one institution.

Use the current general citizen-service channel to request routing. Older municipal articles list additional road-repair numbers; keeping one verified general contact is more useful than circulating an old directory with uncertain staffing. Say which side of the street is affected, the two nearest cross streets and whether the obstacle is in the carriageway or on the sidewalk. Photograph it only from a safe position.

Three planning steps: Describe the issue; Choose the right service; Keep the reference.
Original Open Asu planning diagram. Suggested preparation steps, not an official procedure or a confirmation of availability. Illustration: Open Asu.

Planning steps in text

  1. Describe the issue: Give a clear, safe-to-observe location.
  2. Choose the right service: Match the contact to the problem.
  3. Keep the reference: Save the date and reply for follow-up.

Send one clear report

Prepare a short message before opening WhatsApp:

  • City and barrio, followed by street and nearest intersection.
  • A map pin, plus a written landmark if the pin is ambiguous.
  • What you observed and approximately when.
  • Whether passage is blocked, and whether wires or standing water are visible.
  • A clear photograph, if you can take one without entering traffic or approaching the hazard.

A practical Spanish template is: “Hola. Quiero reportar [problema] en [calle y esquina], barrio [nombre], Asunción. Lo observé el [fecha/hora]. [Descripción breve]. ¿Me confirman la recepción y el área responsable?” Replace every bracket before sending.

Avoid including identity documents, account passwords or unrelated photos of neighbors in an initial street report. If an official form requests personal details, check that you are on the institution's own website and provide what that specific process requires.

Keep a record and follow up

The city's online reporting portal offers registration, report submission and status information by email. Its instructions page explains how to return to a registered case. This is an alternative for keeping track of routine matters; we have not tested submission or account creation.

Save the date, screenshots and any reference number. On follow-up, reuse that reference and explain what remains unresolved. If the condition changes, describe the change instead of sending the same photo repeatedly. A received message is not confirmation that a crew has been assigned, and an automated reply is not a repair appointment.

When weather makes the situation dangerous

In its October 21, 2026 warning, the city lists 0981 274 883 for storm-related attention and 916 for free calls from Tigo. That carrier qualification matters. Do not treat the routine complaints portal as an emergency dispatch service.

Stay away from fallen wires and do not move branches touching electrical equipment. Do not cross a flooded street to obtain a better picture. Report your location from somewhere safe and follow the responsible service's instructions. For a household electricity interruption, use our separate power-outage guide; for water-service problems, see water cuts and ESSAP reports.

For everyday local tips, find the Open Asu community on WhatsApp.