Name: Finlands residents use bomb shelter for leisure activities
Uploaded: 2025-11-11T09:24:50.002Z
Duration: 2 min 54 s
Description: Helsinki’s underground shelters transform from Cold War relics to everyday leisure spaces, while security concerns linger.

Helsinki’s underground shelters transform from Cold War relics to everyday leisure spaces, while security concerns linger.

Helsinki

Helsinki, Finland, is home to an extensive network of underground bomb shelters, with facilities capable of accommodating more than 80% of the country's population. While these shelters, such as the Merihaka bedrock shelter, are designed to provide protection in times of war, they are currently used for leisure activities like floorball.

Officials emphasize the importance of civil defense and preparedness, noting that the shelters can be made operational within 72 hours if needed. Monthly siren tests maintain public awareness of potential threats, and the Finnish model is being considered by other European countries facing similar security concerns.

Finland's residents use bomb shelter for leisure activities

This is one of Europe's most prosperous cities, bustling with activity and tourists throughout the year. But deep below the streets of Helsinki there is another city. This is the Merihaka, a bedrock shelter built in 2003 and can accommodate 6,000 people. And it's not the only one. There are shelters for more than 80% of the Finnish population. The Finnish capital has a complex underground facility that can house the city's entire population in times of war. Nina Jarvinkula works for the rescue department and shows me the blast-proof doors designed to withstand a nuclear attack and radiation exposure. People will come to the shelter, we don't evacuate them, they come here and we can offer them shelter, air and water. They come inside and they can stay here for a few hours or several days or weeks if necessary. For now, the bunker is mainly for leisure. This area has been converted into a floorball court, a popular sport here. Obviously not too good if it's being used for what it was actually designed for. For this it's good. Yeah, but the geopolitical situation is not something I'm too happy about. Olli Rantanen says he comes here often with his child and tries not to think about the mounting tension in the region. I don't feel like I'm in a war scenario or something, but of course I like to know that since we live quite nearby that we have this kind of shelter for us if something happens. For Märi Rantanen, Finland's Minister of Interior who oversees civil defence, this is a crucial moment for Europe to increase its security. Everything starts from the very good intelligence, which should give early warning. And that's why we have intelligence services. But for these shelters, for example this Merihaka, it's empty in 72 hours. It's ready to take everybody in. And that's how we plan the things with the shelters. Terror raid sirens sound once a month across the country. People barely flinch. The tests are a long tradition so Finns are aware of potential threats. For the Finns, the massive labyrinths of bunkers now make more sense than ever. They could be the most efficient protection against a Russian attack and may serve as a model for many European countries contemplating emergency scenarios such as mass evacuations of cities in case Russia decides to send troops across the border. Hashim Akbar Al-Jazeera from the Merihaka Shelter, Helsinki.

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