Brussels stokes war fears as terrified Europeans build bunkers

Across Europe, more and more families are building bunkers and preparing for armed conflict after the European Union had urged citizens to assemble 72-hour survival kits. Pro-war nations are intensifying public fears of war.

English POLITIKA 2025. ÁPRILIS 6. 11:21

Many families are seeking out ultra-secure shelters. Euronews gained access to one such facility, resistant to nuclear radiation and equipped with decontamination showers, reinforced concrete and steel walls, and armoured doors. The owner installed the bunker out of fear of an armed conflict in Europe. The shelter was developed by VIP Bunker, whose director, Fernando Diaz, described it as a “high-security apartment where one can live for months,” fitted with 1,000 litres of drinking water and various backup energy systems.

With an average price tag of 150,000 euros, however, such shelters remain a luxury that only a few can afford.

Nevertheless, an increasing number of people are willing to make the costly investment for peace of mind. Some opt to convert only parts of their homes. Companies such as VIP Bunker offer luxury products exceeding €350,000, as well as more affordable solutions tailored to customers’ needs. A well-functioning bunker must be at least 10 metres deep, with reinforced walls, air and water filtration, and impact-resistant doors. To be truly nuclear-proof, a steel coating is required. Given the limited availability of public options, many are choosing to prepare privately for a potential wartime emergency.

Survival trainings also sees a surge in demand

Lieutenant Colonel Manolo Camara, author of the book Prepárate (Get Ready!), has been training civilians in survival techniques for years.

“There wasn’t much interest before. But now, people are starting to worry about a possible war in Europe—though much less so here in Spain than elsewhere in the EU,”

– he told Euronews, adding that in wartime, food, water, and medical aid would be scarce, and people must know how to act.

For the lieutenant colonel, knowledge is key:

“The most important item in your backpack is what doesn’t weigh anything—knowing how to use it. You need a family plan, with meeting points and evacuation routes,”

– he said. Ignacio Ortega, head of training at a Spanish survival school, reported that entire families are now signing up for courses.

“People come to us from all walks of life—not just from security professions, but also average families and independent professionals. Since the war in Ukraine, the profile has changed: previously it was nature lovers, now it’s ordinary families terrified of the future,”

– he said.

The European Union fans war anxiety and calls for 72-hour survival kits

The war-leaning European Union has called on citizens to prepare 72-hour survival kits and urged governments to strengthen civil-military cooperation. European leaders in favour of continuing the war are stoking fear.

“We need to think big, because the threats are bigger,”

– said Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Crisis Management. As tensions rise between Russia and NATO, the phrase “nuclear war” has become increasingly commonplace. The European Union insists that in the event of conflict, stockpiling supplies is essential. France, Norway, Finland, and Sweden are currently distributing wartime handbooks. In Spain, the government is drafting a national civil defence plan in case of “military risk,” but the country only has four public nuclear bunkers, mostly located in the capital: the prime minister’s residence at the Moncloa Palace, the Torrejón base, El Capricho Park, and the Ebora Hotel in Toledo. Metro tunnels could also serve as shelters, though they would still be vulnerable to radiation. With an estimated number of approximately 400 private bunkers, Spain lags far behind countries like France and Germany.

 

 

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