German authorities are planning to turn public areas into bomb shelters amid increasing tension with Russia.
Metro stations are to become air raid shelters, according to The Telegraph. Other buildings may be converted into bunkers, while a developing app will help members of the public find shelters.
There are currently 579 public shelters in Germany, a country with a population of 84.4 million people.
The country is also urging citizens to set up shelters in their basements.
German officials have scaled back their bunker efforts since 2007, when authorities declared that such moves were unnecessary. As the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues to intensify, however, the country is reconsidering its bunker network.
“Even though we hope that this situation doesn’t arise, we must be prepared to protect the public in the event of an emergency,” said Andrea Lindholz, a Christian Democrat (CDU) Member of Parliament (MP). “We need to significantly increase the capacity in Germany.”
