Safest place to live in UK in a nuclear attack in the wake of Iran war | World

Where exactly would you take shelter? (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The world has been plunged into chaos due to the conflict between Iran, the US and Israel.

Strikes have spread across the Middle East with widespread air space restrictions being brought into force while the fighting rages.

It has also sparked huge disruptions to travellers with thousands of Brits stranded across the world as airports are forced to close and planes are grounded.

While the UK’s Prime Minister Kier Starmer has ruled out Britain joining the assault in the skies, this does not mean the country will not participate entirely after he committed to allowing the use of UK bases for defensive measures to protect allies in the region under threat from retaliatory attack.

There are now fears Iran could target UK assets and the PM deployed warship HMS Dragon and helicopters with counter-drone capabilities to Cyprus after a UK airbase was targeted by a drone.

TEHRAN, IRAN - MARCH 01: Smoke rises from the area after it was targeted in attacks as a series of explosions are heard in Tehra

Bombs fall on Tehran (Image: Anadolu, Anadolu via Getty Images)

In a statement posted on X, Mr Starmer: « The UK is fully committed to the security of Cyprus and British military personnel based there.

« We’re continuing our defensive operations and I’ve just spoken with the President of Cyprus to let him know that we are sending helicopters with counter drone capabilities and HMS Dragon is to be deployed to the region. We will always act in the interest of the UK and our allies. »

According to the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), the optimal way to safeguard you and your family before, during, and after a nuclear explosion is « getting inside the centre of a building or basement ».

A plume of smoke rises after a strike on the Iranian capital Tehran

A plume of smoke rises after a strike on the Iranian capital Tehran (Image: ATTA KENARE, AFP via Getty Images)

They said: « On August 6, 1945, Mr Eizo Nomura was in the basement of a building in Hiroshima, about 170 meters from ground zero. He survived the atomic bombing and died in 1982 at the age of 84. Most people within a few hundred metres of a nuclear detonation are not likely to survive, especially if unprepared.

« Be inside before the fallout arrives. After a detonation, you will have 10 minutes or more to find an adequate shelter before fallout arrives. If a multi-story building or a basement can be safely reached within a few minutes of the explosion, go there immediately. The safest buildings have brick or concrete walls. Underground parking garages and subways can also provide good shelter. »

Given this guidance, it would appear sensible to conclude that London, with its sprawling Underground system, would provide optimal protection, with tube tunnels offering substantial defence against the blast. This was, naturally, where countless Londoners took refuge during the dark days of the Blitz, the Mirror reports.

Nevertheless, views differ on this question, with certain experts warning that contemporary nuclear weaponry could penetrate far deeper than World War II ordnance, implying even Hampstead station at 58 metres below ground level might remain dangerously shallow.

Andrew Futter, a Professor of International Politics at the University of Leicester, has suggested that the London Underground may not offer adequate protection in the event of a nuclear strike, as it « probably wouldn’t be deep enough if there was a direct hit ».

Iranians protest against attacks on Iran by Israel and the United States

Iranians protest against attacks on Iran by Israel and the United States (Image: Majid Saeedi, Getty Images)

To enhance survival prospects, it’s vital to be beyond the blast radius should a major UK city, such as London or Edinburgh, come under attack.

The effects of a nuclear explosion hinge on several elements, including radiation, fireball, air blast, and thermal radiation, with varying radii of up to 153 km2, 197 km2, 1,420 km2, and 12,960 km2 respectively. Whilst these distances can vary based on weather conditions, property researchers have pinpointed 20 locations that could potentially offer greater safety than urban areas, as outlined by EMoov in 2017.

A plume of smoke rises after an explosion

A plume of smoke rises after an explosion (Image: Getty Images, Getty Images)

However, even these regions might not be immune to radiation dispersed by wind currents. Given this, the secluded island of Foula in the Shetland Isles could conceivably be the safest refuge in the UK during a nuclear assault.

The complete list of the safest locations is provided below: