Kuopio tests dual-use shelter with 2,000 students

More than 2,000 students took part in a large civil defence exercise at the Luola sports and events centre in Kuopio on Wednesday, Yle reports. The participants spent about two hours inside the shelter.

It was the first time the two-year-old Luola had been tested in its alternative role as a civil defence shelter. The facility is designed to protect up to 7,000 people during exceptional circumstances.

The exercise was led by the North Savo rescue department and the City of Kuopio. Students from Savonia University of Applied Sciences, the Savo Vocational College and Luovi Vocational College received an alert shortly before noon and had about 30 minutes to move to Luola, the nearest shelter to their educational institutions.

Antti Haataja, preparedness manager at the North Savo rescue department and deputy director of the exercise, said the transfer was calm and proceeded faster and more smoothly than expected.

The largest sports hall was divided into shelter rooms using partitions, with space for about 200 people in each room. There were not enough beds for everyone, so participants would have had to rest in shifts. The more than 2,000 people had access to 60 dry toilets.

During the exercise, participants rested, played cards and used their smartphones. Information points had also been set up around the facility.

Haataja said a real emergency would involve assigning people different tasks, such as emptying the dry toilets. Groups would work in shifts while others slept, rested or used their phones.

Under exceptional circumstances, Luola could serve as temporary accommodation for up to 7,000 people. Under normal conditions, it can accommodate about 2,500.

The exercise continues until Thursday morning, with more than 100 people staying overnight. The night-time programme includes practising the maintenance of the civil defence shelter.

The modern dual-use facility has also attracted international interest. The Wall Street Journal published a video report about Luola in February, and journalists from countries including Denmark, Germany, Poland and the United States took part in the exercise.