As the whole of Europe is gripped within the anxiety of a potential nuclear war on their continent, Swiss people have been talking a lot about bunkers lately. Yes, bunkers! I am as surprised as you – although I was raised in Switzerland, I had completely forgotten about them. Since the 1960’s, each Swiss citizen is required to have a spot in a protected shelter near their home. This law necessity was defined within the context of the Cold War, when a nuclear war was a constant threat. Owners have to build shelters when constructing a building, hospitals and other facilities. So, many buildings have them underground. It feels very unique to Switzerland, as I don’t recall hearing such thing in other countries that I know. You can learn more details about it in this French article.
However, as a catastrophic scenario feels more real than ever, last week Swiss people started to wonder about bunkers, and they realized that there may not be enough space for every citizen. In theory, there are currently 9 millions spots all over the country for about 8.67 millions citizens, so it should be enough. However, not all of them are nearby, so some cities or villages lack bunkers, and it is unclear who has access to what. Many are also not inhabitable, since they don’t have toilets or fans. After the Cold War threat passed, people started to be less prepared. In my parents’ house in Switzerland, we do not have any bunker, other than the basement which is not livable nor protected — it is a house built 100 years ago. I wouldn’t know where to find a shelter if I was there. And you — do you think bunkers are efficient, and do you know any other countries that require bunkers too?