A mysterious prank-caller has phoned the 120 emergency line at the First Aid Center of Suining in southwest China's Sichuan Province more than 30,000 times in three years.

A caller at phone number ***030944076 has made the fake emergency calls on a regular basis since the center was founded in 2005. Another number, 1354743****, has called over 1,000 times in three months, an average of more than 10 calls daily.

Last year, the medical center received more than 100,000 calls. At least 80 percent were non-emergencies with the caller usually either silent or people chatting on the other side, according to the center.

The 120 operation system has shielding devices to deter prank calls by automatically rejecting annoying calls of certain numbers, but the hospital prefer not to enact the screening function in case of real emergency.

In accordance with the law, making fraudulent emergency calls are unlawful and those who make them face prosecution.

Despite the help of the local telecom company, so far, no suspects have been found.

(Xinhua News Agency February 15, 2008)