Worries over nuclear shelter space

People are concerned there may not be space for them in a nuclear shelter if needed.

More people are asking the authorities where they should go if needed. The law, dating back to the Cold War, says everyone should have a shelter space within a 30-minute walking distance from their home – an hour if they live in the mountains. 

There are enough spaces for everyone in the country – but the allocations are imbalanced. The 365,000 bunkers in the country can hold 9 million people. But Geneva doesn’t have enough for all its residents – it can only handle around 75%. 

Many are being used for storage or temporary accommodation. But the law states they need to be cleared within 5 days or less. 

But shelters will only offer temporary protection in case of a limited nuclear exchange or radiation leakage from a power plant. 

A Federal Defence Department spokesman says no country can protect itself from a large-scale nuclear war.

More from Bitesize News

  • Valais scam alert

    Valais police say a fresh wave of phone scams has cost residents nearly CHF 150,000 in the past week alone

  • Geneva job losses concern

    Job cuts at the UN's Geneva-based health and food agencies will weaken food safety worldwide according to report

  • Parental law change soon

    Geneva's 24-week parental leave is finally on track after the National Council cleared the last federal obstacle on yesterday

  • House price risk

    Zurich now carries the highest housing-bubble risk of any city in the world, according to UBS's Global Real Estate Bubble Index

  • New hearings for Crans Montana fire case

    Prosecutors in the Crans-Montana fire case have scheduled four fresh hearings before the end of the year — and could add more

  • ICRC neutrality important

    The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross says Switzerland and the Geneva-based humanitarian body should keep their neutralities distinct

Download our app

  • Available on the App Store
  • Available on Google Play