Many cities in Europe have prepared themselves over the years to protect the civilian population in case a war breaks out. However, if you think that all these shelters are, as seen in the movies, dark and uncomfortable, think again.
Finland, for example, has been concerned with making these ‘bunker’ spaces ‘premium‘ where people can also enjoy. This with the aim that, in the event that confinement is imminent, it does not affect people’s mental health so much.
25 meters below the ground in some cities of Finland you can find about 54 thousand civilian shelters that have been created since World War II.
Since that time, when the country was invaded, Finland has created tools to protect itself and the civilian population in case an attempted invasion or air attack happens again.
In fact, military service continues to be mandatory in the country, which means that its Armed Forces have around 280,000 men ready to act.
With regard to the ‘bunkers’, the large number is due to the fact that the laws of the country require that new buildings that are larger than certain meters must include a shelter.
Eventually, many of these have become stores, places of entertainment or even spaces where you can practice some sports.
However, they are designed so that, if necessary, can shelter up to 80 percent of the country’s population, that is, a little more than 4 million people.
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Helsinki
The country’s capital, Helsinki, has 5,500 ‘bunkers’ – the largest concentration of shelters – which are also prepared to receive 900,000 people.
This with the idea that there is not only a place for those who reside there, which is the largest number of people in the country, but also so that those who are in surrounding areas can have access to a shelter.
In addition, just below Hakaniemi Square, located in the center of the capital, is one of the shelters that have become the most luxurious in the country.
If you think that for this you have to go down through an area surrounded by land, you are wrong, because access to this ‘bunker’, which opened in 2003, is through escalators and elevators.
In this refuge, which has more than 14 thousand square metersthere is an Olympic swimming pool, sports center, cafeteria, gym, slides and leisure activities such as bumper cars.
The design is even intended to make people feel calm, since some of the corridors that connect to the ‘bunker’ have decorations with plants, designed with the idea that those who see them do not feel confined.
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And what is necessary?
Despite having all these services that a shelter would not usually include, these spaces also have all the necessary aspects to receive a large number of people and, according to Finnish law, they must be ready within 72 hours of being needed.
In addition to the attractions already mentioned, the shelters have thousands of beds and also reserves of basic needs such as medicines, non-perishable food, fuel and some cereals that are in sufficient quantities so that there are no problems in terms of supply for several months.
How are they built?
The design is made of bedrock, a material that can withstand attacks that could reach the country in the event of a war. To some extent, it could withstand nuclear attacks.
This was explained by Kimmo Kohvakka, general director of the rescue services of the Ministry of the Interior, to the ‘Efe’ agency: “We are in a state-of-the-art shelter.”
In the event of a nuclear attack, they are designed with a filtering system that would allow the most harmful substances not to contaminate the environment.
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current conflicts
Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine has also raised concerns in nearby countries.
Kohvakka commented that the Finnish population has had a response to the attacks: “Certainly there has been an increase in concern […] but on the other hand we are quite confident that, in our case, we are prepared for anything that happens”.
Ukraine, for example, also had some ‘bunkers’. In fact, kyiv, the capital, has 4,500 bomb shelters.
However, because they had not been needed, they were transformed over time, just like in Finland, into bars or places to store things. Because of this, many citizens had to improvise shelters.
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