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Finland’s capital has several underground shelters. Envisions scenarios of intense bombing and nuclear threat.
Excavated in the granite tens of meters deep, Helsinki has a vast network of shelters underground.
These bunkers were built to protect the population in the event of an attack — including scenarios of intense bombing and even nuclear threats — in a context in which Finland shares a long border with Russia and monitors carefully.
The capital of Finland is about 5,500 shelters of civil defense with approximately 900,000 seats — capacity designed to cover residents and temporary populations.
At a national level, there are around 50,500 shelters with space for 4.8 million people; the Minister of the Interior indicates that the majority are private structures integrated into buildings, in reinforced concrete.
How it works
The inside describes one of these spaces: the Merihaka shelter; and also the way in which civil preparation is part of everyday life.
At the entrance, two metal doors heavy structures are separated by a granite wall designed to withstand multiple explosions.
In case of emergency, residents would go through a decontamination chamberwith showers and taps, before entering the main complex, carved into the rock approximately 25 meters below the city.
Manager Nina Järvenkylä emphasizes that the aim is to ensure clear procedures and quick response capabilities.
The Merihaka shelter can accommodate up to 2,000 people, with stacked bunk beds and areas that can be segmented for families with children, to give privacy to the elderly or for first aid.
A hermetic seal is ensured by ventilation systems, and the design of the space prioritizes functionality — including dry bathrooms and logistical support areas.
A central feature of this network is the “dual use”: in normal times, several arcades serve recreational and sporting activities (such as hockey pitches), snack bars, and play areas.
The spaces are rented with the condition that they can be released and converted into shelter within 72 hours.
O alert it would be given by sirens and cell phone warnings, prompting residents to collect essential goods and head to the nearest shelter.
There is also the “72 hour concept”: encourage households to maintain provisions and minimum autonomy for three days — food, water, medicines and items such as battery-powered flashlights, matches and basic equipment.
A population is not in panic, but is aware of the riskin a country that maintains the conscription of young people for military service and a reservist system.
The culture of preparedness in Finland is ancient: the shelter system has existed since World War II and has been reinforced through decades of historical tensions and territorial losses, such as Karelia (to Russia), and by more recent events such as the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine since 2022.
