Shelters for the entire population: why Switzerland is the country with more nuclear bunkers in the world and decided to modernize them now

The space for each person must be not less than a square meter. In addition, they must be located 30 minutes maximum walking from home, 60 in the event that the area is mountainous.

Alfible distances, not only because of the size of the country, but also for the obligation for the owners of apartments of building and equipping shelters in all homes.

“The majority of the population lives in buildings that include their own bunkers. If there is no refuge in an inhabited building, there are public facilities,” explains the Federal Office of Civil Protection.

The shelters are conceived for cases of armed conflict and must be resistant to the effects of modern weapons, that is, they must provide protection against hazardous substances of type: nuclear, biological and chemical, as well as impacts of conventional weapons.

It is a culture of civil and citizen defense, more than military.

“The solid exterior housing of the shelter can resist at least 10 tons of pressure per square meter (that is, 1 bar), which means that it can support the collapse of a building on it,” explains civil protection.

After an earthquake, for example, shelters can give emergency accommodation and the type of filter with which they are equipped also protects against biological and chemical weapons, since it purifies contaminated outer air.

“It makes me more sure to know that there is a shelter for everyone in case of attack or nuclear disaster. I do not think that a war in Switzerland or in one of the neighboring countries is a probable scenario. However, I think it is good that we are prepared,” Nicolas Städler tells BBC Mundo Nicolas Städler, from the city of Basel, just at the border with Germany and France.

But he admits that right now, if something happened, he does not know where the refuge that would have to go.

For Daniel Jordi, deputy director of the Federal Office of Civil Protection, knowing the place to go only is the time.

“The bunker you should go to is associated with your address. But it is normal for families to change home or move. Knowing where their refuge would only cause confusion. Is it the previous one? Is it the new one? Our recommendation is to communicate it only when necessary,” says Jordi.

The existence of this network dates back to World War II, when the country was trapped among Hitler's Nazi Germany, Benito Mussolini's fascist Italy and his own desire to remain neutral. Switzerland has remained out of foreign wars since 1815.

The cold war period ended up spurrating public construction, but above all private, of these facilities. All have to pass an inspection every 10 years and get a certificate.

Now, many of these spaces have become improvised pantries, a crowded storage rooms or wine wineries to name a few examples. Some are museums, hotels or restaurants.

“The idea was that the space can be used but without modifying its structure. We have that, when the time comes, citizens will have two days to return that part of the basement to its original use: a bunker,” says the deputy director of the Federal Office of Civil Protection.

Others are in poor condition due to years of disuse, but all have to pass an inspection every 10 years and get a certificate that everything is fine or pay to solve it.

“I do not feel more protected. The evolution of weapons of war has reached a point where an attack on the civilian population in Switzerland could cause numerous victims,” explains Eugenio Garrido, a Dominican Republic lawyer who has lived in Zurich for years.

“I am not sure if the shelters built about 50 or 60 years ago would stop such attacks,” he adds.

Now “in the face of the evolution of the world security situation,” the Swiss government wants to tune the network and plans an investment of US $ 250 million to modernize the network, ensuring that bunkers are operational and ready for use in case of emergency.

The authorities pointed out that shelter improvements are not preparations for war, but an investment in public safety.

Isabel lives in Zurich. Nor is he sure where his bunker is, the refuge he would have to go if an attack happens, but he tells BBC Mundo to know that there is one gives him “mental peace.”

“I think it is a great measure to protect the population from any nuclear disaster or conflict; it gives me peace of mind to know that I have where to be protected and my family.”

“As the world is, nothing can be ruled out, but I hope Switzerland maintains its neutrality and can continue to be a safe place for its inhabitants and that of shelter people who need it,” he says in reference to the traditional spirit of reception and neutrality of the Helvetic country.

Without going far, Switzerland welcomed thousands of Jews escaped from Hitler's Nazi Germany.

But the Swiss government's decision to adopt EU sanctions against Russia marked a significant change in the historical position of non -alignment and in the mentality of citizens.

According to local media, Swiss companies specialized in bunkers have reported a significant increase in consultations and applications since the beginning of the conflict. For example, Oppidum Bunkers, dedicated to the construction of luxury shelters, reported a “constant increase” in consultations about their products in recent months.

And companies such as Mengeu Ag and Lunor have experienced an “explosion of applications” to renew or verify the functionality of existing bunkers, many of which date from the 1960s to 1980s and require urgent maintenance.

From Civil Protection Daniel Jordi confirms it: “Yes, from the war in Ukraine we receive many more questions, both from citizens and the cantons, which are responsible for ensuring that shelters are ready and that people have access to them.”

The wave of questions often includes “Where is my bunker?” “I have one?” “Is it still intact?” “How can I fix mine?”

For years Switzerland was taken to the so -called “dividend of peace”, which caused the deterioration or abandonment of its shelters.

“That dividend refers to the expense in unknown security during the last decades because after the end of the Cold War there was no perception of imminent warlike risks or for the population,” explains Professor Juan Moscoso del Prado, Senior Fellow of the ESADEGEO Institute.

This analyst recalls that the invasion of Ukraine came to threaten the integrity of nuclear critical infrastructure, as is the case of the Zaporiyia Central. In case of explosion or attack, the radioactive pollution cloud could affect central Europe, as happened with Chernobil.

Also, the announcement of the United States to withdraw part of its military personnel from the European territory and its commitment to defense and security on Western Europe, without a doubt it affects Switzerland.

“Switzerland, for a long time it was a territory embedded between countries or blocks faced. That situation lasted centuries, covered times of wars and conflicts between France, Prussia and then Germany, the Austrohungal Empire, Russia … from the end of the cold war, Switzerland seemed to be an island within a continent of peace stability, but that uniform stability has been broken radically with the war of Ucrania,” Moscoso del Prado.

And since it is not known what the course of the war in Ukraine can be, another countries have reacted similarly such as Baltic, Finland, Norway or Sweden countries.

At a time when European powers have decided to increase expense in defense and weapons, Switzerland has reactivated an old defense system that last century allowed it to remain oblivious to armed conflicts.

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