Many of Sweden's bomb shelters are old and need upgrades. The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency is inspecting them, with the pace set to increase soon with more funding and new responsibilities. Most shelters protect against pressure waves and shrapnel, but have shortcomings against chemical and nuclear weapons.
Sweden has around 64,000 bomb shelters accommodating more than seven million people. Many were built in the second half of the 20th century and need upgrades to function in war or crisis, according to the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MCF). About 2,000 shelters are inspected annually, but after the turn of the year, county administrations will take over responsibility while more funds are allocated, increasing the pace. “It can now take several decades for a shelter to be visited, but that will change,” says Henrik Larsson, acting head of the population protection department at MCF. “We have a good picture of the most common deficiencies.” Many shelters withstand pressure waves from weapons up to 250 kilos, shrapnel, and collapsing buildings above, including in a war like Russia's in Ukraine. Shortcomings primarily concern chemical warfare and nuclear weapons, where new filters are being installed. Other issues include unsealed holes from fiber optic cabling, poor maintenance, and ventilation systems painted over. “They simply haven't thought about it when there was no threat picture,” Larsson says. Inspections prioritize areas like Gotland, Stockholm County, Norrbotten, and West Coast ports, per the Armed Forces. Fixes are faster now as the industry has grown. A bomb shelter should protect against pressure waves, shrapnel, fire, ionizing radiation, and debris.
