By Ebad Ahmed
PRAGUE (AA) - Denmark has space to accommodate at least 3.6 million people in underground bunkers if it ever needs to shelter people in the event of war or disaster, a local news media outlet reported on Thursday.
The underground shelters and bunkers would cover around 61% of the Danish population, the Danish daily Jyllands-Posten said, adding that the authorities have been expanding the space for the shelters for the last two years.
The review of underground bunkers, including public shelters and annexes in homes like extra rooms underneath garages, was launched in 2022 in light of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
Some safe rooms are being used for other purposes in peacetime and would have to be prepared for emergency use in times of potential crisis, according to the review.
Earlier, a statement issued by the Danish Foreign Ministry said: “The current military security assessment does not indicate that there is a military threat against Denmark. As shelters are foreseen to be used by citizens in connection with war acts in Denmark, there is not an acute need for preparing shelters and safe rooms.”
However it cautioned its citizens that if a nuclear emission spreads from the war-hit Ukraine to Denmark, the people should go indoors to avoid the risk of radiation. “In a situation with nuclear emissions, shelters will not provide extra protection,” the statement added.
The ministry informed that the Danish municipalities are responsible for public shelters, whereas the responsibility for safe rooms is with the owner of a building under the supervision of the municipalities in connection with making the safe rooms ready for use.