Nuclear war: Can you afford to survive? Here's how much private bunkers cost across Europe

During nan Cold War, galore European countries were packed pinch underground atomic bunkers to shield civilians successful lawsuit of attack.

However, aft nan autumn of nan Berlin Wall, galore were decommissioned, transformed into museums aliases simply abandoned.

Bunker huntsman group Subterranea Britannica suggests location were erstwhile much than 280 underground atomic shelters successful nan UK.

"I deliberation it is adjacent to opportunity that only a very mini number is now successful use," they told Euronews.

"Of nan ones retired of use, fewer if immoderate could beryllium brought backmost to life. Older designs are apt to beryllium ineffective against modern atomic weapons," they added.

Is a backstage bunker much costly than a one-bedroom flat?

Amid rising geopolitical tensions, nan deficiency of extended bunker networks has created a niche marketplace for individual shelters successful countries for illustration Italy, Spain, Germany, Sweden and nan UK.

But nan finance required is not to beryllium taken lightly.

The astir basal versions (usually nether 10m²) scope betwixt €3,000 and €5,000 per m², astir nan value per m² of a modern workplace aliases a one-bedroom level successful a medium-sized European city.

The committedness is protection against nuclear, biologic and chemic threats.

Key features see a reinforced actual halfway building (30cm heavy walls), radiation-proof armoured doors and an aerial ventilation system.

TV and...tear gas: What's included successful nan premium versions?

At nan much costly end, a 140m² bunker offering "real house" comforts for illustration a surviving room and a 40-inch tv tin bid prices of €1 million, Italy's Il Mio Bunker told Euronews.

In nan UK, Burrowed LTD sells "luxury prefabricated bunkers" that costs up to €181,000 pinch a maximum magnitude of astir 16 metres. They characteristic an air-tight door, an electrical heater, a caller h2o tank, a afloat kitchen, retention beds and a star powerfulness generator, among different things.

Meanwhile, Germany's BunkerBauer offers a 9.6m² bunker for €79,000, which, connected apical of video surveillance, mobility detectors and infrasound alarms, includes a tear state launcher.

In Sweden, €170,000 would beryllium capable for a 54m² bunker capable to location astatine slightest six people, pinch a room and a diesel generator included.

Sweden-based Victor Angelier, laminitis of nan Nuclear Bunker Company, said his clients are willing successful backstage shelters because they don't consciousness safe capable pinch "government security".

"There is not capable abstraction for nan number of civilians", he noted, adding that nan mostly of his customers are from Poland, Sweden and nan Netherlands.

Angelier said he noticed an uptick successful clients aft nan opening of Russia's full-scale penetration of Ukraine successful 2022.

Wednesday's incident involving Russian drones successful Poland sparked renewed interest, he said.

What's nan safest state successful Europe successful lawsuit of atomic attack?

In Europe, only a fistful of countries person kept their bunker accommodation active.

The continent's astir extended atomic bunker strategy is successful Switzerland, nan only state wherever nan responsibility to supply atomic shelters for nan full organization is enshrined successful law.

Around 60 years aft nan rule was enacted, Switzerland presently has astir 9,000 nationalist shelters and astir 360,000 backstage bunkers. Their full capacity is astir 9.3 cardinal group — capable to screen nan full organization of astir 9 million.

Around 100,000 of nan country's mini shelters, built astir 40 years agone and capable to big up to 7 people, are being renovated owed to outdated ventilation systems. The scheme is to switch them pinch larger, nationalist shelters. The programme is expected to costs €235 million.

Swiss nationalist shelters tin presently accommodate betwixt 200 and 5,000 people.

Some of nan largest accommodation see nan Beaulieu shelter successful Lausanne and nan Sonneberg Tunnel adjacent Lucerne. The second could primitively location 20,000 group but now it tin only accommodate astir a tenth of that.

Which different European countries person progressive bunker networks?

Sweden is different state that has invested heavy successful atomic preparedness.

It has astir 64,000 shelters pinch capable abstraction for astir 7 cardinal people. The largest is nan Klara shelter successful Stockholm, which tin big up to 8,000 group successful wartime.

The rumor is taken highly earnestly successful nan country. The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) has launched a €9-million scheme to measurement up inspections and guarantee shelters tin beryllium operational wrong 48 hours if needed.

Neighbouring Finland besides has a web of progressive bunkers. According to 2022 data, earlier nan state joined NATO, Finland had 50,500 atomic shelters, nan immense mostly of which (85%) are privately owned.

According to nan Finnish Interior Ministry, that is capable to protect 4.8 cardinal civilians.