Thousands of underground shelters and bunkers built in Greece before and during World War II have recently drawn renewed attention, as rising regional tensions prompt citizens to search for potential places of refuge.

Most of the structures were constructed between 1936 and 1941, during the years leading up to the war and throughout the period of Nazi occupation.

According to a report citing figures presented to the Greek parliament, there are 2,892 bunkers from that era scattered across the country, capable of sheltering between two and three million people. In the Attica region alone — home to Athens and Piraeus — more than 900 bunkers are believed to exist, some concealed beneath city streets.

Despite their numbers, the precise locations of many of these shelters remain undisclosed. The Greek government has refused to release details about where they are situated, saying the information would only be made public if the country were to face a missile attack.

The secrecy has not stopped residents from attempting to locate the bunkers on their own. Interest in the underground shelters has intensified amid growing security concerns in the region and fears that American-related sites in Greece could become targets for Iran or Hezbollah.

Some individuals have already managed to enter a few of the bunkers. Panagiotis Doterios, a civil engineer and cave researcher, said he has visited two shelters in Piraeus. According to him, most of the facilities have not been maintained for years and suffer from severe dampness. “When you go inside them, you feel that these are places that have been abandoned for years,” he said.

One of the most notable bunkers is located on the island of Aegina, near Athens. The facility was built in 1937 deep underground at a cost considered enormous at the time — about two billion drachmas. The complex stretches across roughly 83 dunams beneath the surface and spans several levels, containing rooms, storage areas and communications stations. Large artillery pieces once stood above ground at the site. Today, most of the structure remains closed and under the control of the Greek military.

In another part of the country, calls for greater preparedness have emerged on the island of Crete, where a major American base operates at Souda Bay. The deputy mayor of Heraklion, Giorgos Karantinos, suggested that the island’s bunkers be opened and equipped for emergencies with basic supplies such as blankets, water and dry food.

However, the locations of the bunkers there have also not been made public, and the government in Athens has so far shown little interest in adopting the proposal.

For now, blocked entrances and old “No Entry” signs can still be seen on streets in Piraeus, marking sealed bunker entrances that have remained closed for decades. For millions of Greeks, this underground network lies directly beneath their feet — yet most have no idea exactly where it is.

{Matzav.com}