Helsinki emergency services warn central maintenance tunnel is deadly in accidents

The Helsinki City Rescue Department has reiterated that the central Helsinki maintenance tunnel is off-limits to through traffic, emphasizing that unauthorized use poses severe risks in emergencies.

The tunnel—narrow, maze-like, and lacking emergency exits in its older sections—becomes life-threatening during incidents, according to the agency. Smoke from fires or collisions can instantly eliminate visibility, while unauthorized vehicles block rescue routes.

“Visibility disappears completely,” said Antti Salminen, communications specialist for the Rescue Department, describing a recent drill. “Even with theatrical smoke, we lost all orientation. Two standard flashlights couldn’t cut through it.”

The tunnel’s design, originally intended for service access, includes loading bays connected to buildings—potential smoke entry points. Its tight turns and single-lane stretches prevent overtaking, trapping vehicles in emergencies. “Drivers caught in smoke face impossible choices: proceed blindly or abandon their car in a choke point,” Salminen said.

A recent exercise simulated a collision between two electric vehicles, which produce dense smoke. Rescue teams stressed that extracting victims or deploying fire and clearance equipment becomes nearly impossible in the confined space. “The old section is so narrow, you can’t even drive past,” Salminen noted.

The agency issued a warning via X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, urging compliance with the ban. Yle was granted rare access to film a full tunnel transit, completed in roughly five minutes—highlighting its restricted nature.