Helsinki opens new mortuary with capacity for 300

Helsinki has opened new mortuary facilities at Malmi cemetery, featuring five separate towers with a combined capacity of around 300 deceased, Yle reports.

The city sees 300–400 deaths per month, with numbers expected to rise by 25 percent by 2024 due to population growth and aging. The new facility, operational since early May, uses automated systems to minimize handling of remains, preserving their condition.

Chief physician Laura Pikkarainen, who coordinates the operations, noted the building’s design—with distinct sections for the living and the dead—aims to provide a calming environment. The facility includes four farewell rooms, two equipped for washing the deceased, accommodating diverse cultural and religious practices.

A lift system stores remains in the towers, automatically tracking their location. In the first week of June, 68 deceased were held in the new mortuary.

The facility is managed by Helsinki’s social services, healthcare, and rescue department.