The escalation in international conflicts that is shaking much of the planet raises certain doubts about the capabilities of different countries to face a Third World War. In this situation, it is essential to have sufficient shelters and different infrastructures that allow the country to prepare for future emergencies, in addition to government policies that allow effective management.
In the case of Spain, like other European countries, although it has various infrastructures and an extensive network of underground shelters built during the Spanish Civil War and World War II, Most of them are obsolete and have not been adequately maintained. to guarantee current safety and habitability standards. Meanwhile, other countries like Ukraine have invested in this field and have enough space for this type of conflict.
It should be noted that the shelters built between the 1930s and 1940s are not sufficient for contemporary threats and dangers, such as chemical, nuclear or biological weapons. They are not distributed proportionally either, since there is a greater quantity in certain areas while others are neglected. Furthermore, the areas that were previously considered strategic or key no longer correspond to the current ones.
Currently, these types of emergency situations are managed by the General Directorate of Civil Protection and Emergencies, which is responsible for coordinating the response. However, one of the problems or challenges is that this group has not prepared for a large-scale military conflict, due to the low probabilities that existed until now.
In this way, investment in defense in Spain has focused more on the modernization of the armed forces and the acquisition of advanced military technology, instead of on the creation of defensive infrastructure for the civilian population, as other countries do. like Switzerland, which has enough shelters for its entire population.
The steps to follow
- Control and census of shelters: Prepare a complete inventory of all existing shelters, their status and capacity.
- Threat evaluation: Study the possible threats that Spain could have in a world war and adapt the shelters to these.
- Infrastructure development: Build new infrastructure that meets current standards of protection against weapons of mass destruction, equitably throughout the territory.
- Policies and legislation: Develop policies for the construction of shelters.
- Education: Awareness programs for the population on preparedness in case of war.
How many shelters does Spain have?
In total, the country has 400 private bunkers and only 4 public. Among them is the Moncloa Palace, which has more than 7,000 square meters and three levels deep. The largest in Spain is Torrejón de Ardoz, which has 10,000 square meters and space for 600 people and has four floors, its owner is the Air Force.
