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The construction of an underground bunker in Santa Catarina caught attention on social media by combining construction routine, crisis preparation, faith, and survivalism in a project followed by millions.
Maria Elizia Soares, 26, and André Luiz Freitas, 27, are building an underground bunker on a farm in Joinville, in the north of Santa Catarina.
The project began in 2023, has already consumed about R$ 50,000, according to Maria’s estimate, and gained traction on social media after the couple started sharing videos of the construction routine.
The story was reported by Maria to UOL.
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In the interview, she stated that the construction arose from the couple’s concern about possible crisis situations, instability, and shortages.
“These are uncertain times. It’s important to be prepared because we never know what might happen tomorrow,” she said.
The case appears amid a broader debate on civil preparedness.
At the end of March, the European Union recommended that citizens maintain enough supplies for at least 72 hours in case of crisis.
The guidance was cited in discussions about emergencies, conflicts, disasters, and interruption of essential services.
The European recommendation is not directly linked to the construction in Santa Catarina.
Even so, the topic helps contextualize the practice known as survivalism, which involves planning, stocking basic items, and preparing for extreme scenarios.
In the case of Maria and André, the idea began before gaining visibility on the internet.
How the bunker in Joinville started
André and Maria met in childhood, lost contact over the years, and reconnected in 2016 through social media.
Over time, they began to share an interest in survival stories, collapse scenarios, and series with this theme, such as The Walking Dead.
According to Maria, André had been talking for years about the possibility of having a safe place.
The initial idea was to build a chalet on the farm with an underground shelter integrated into the project.
After purchasing the land, the two decided to execute the plan and take on much of the construction themselves.
“André always had this interest and said that one day we would need a safe place. Over time, I began to understand this concern. After much planning, we started building the bunker in 2023,” Maria told UOL.
The term bunker, of German origin, is used to designate underground or reinforced shelters, usually planned for protection in risky situations.
These structures can be associated with conflicts, emergencies, and periods of isolation, depending on the purpose and design.
In the couple’s case, the proposal is to create a security space within the rural property.
The construction, however, is not yet finished and is still ongoing, according to the records published by the two on social media.
Learning in practice and technical help in the construction
Maria and André claim they learned much of the process during the construction itself.
Even so, according to Maria, engineers were consulted at the beginning to verify the project’s calculations and reduce risks in the execution of the structure.
The construction routine included tasks that were not previously part of the couple’s daily life.
Maria reported having learned to mix mortar, build walls, and participate in manual stages of construction.
The description she used to summarize the beginning of the project was direct: the couple had “a dream, a shovel, and a bucket.”
“We learned practically everything on our own, but we consulted engineers to ensure the calculations were correct at the start. I never imagined I would be mixing mortar or building walls, but we ended up getting involved in every detail,” said Maria.
According to her, the rough part of the bunker is already ready, but plastering, finishing, and organizing supplies are still missing.
After this phase, the couple intends to advance in the construction of the chalet planned for the same area of the farm.
The shelter was designed to accommodate four people comfortably.
In a situation of need, Maria states that the space could accommodate up to ten people, although without the same availability of area for everyone.
Bunker videos went viral on social media
In addition to the construction, Maria and André started documenting the project on social media.
The videos show stages such as planning, excavation, fixing the structure underground, installing solar panels, and advancing the finishing.
The exposure led the couple to gain followers and transform part of the construction routine into digital content.
According to the original text, some posts exceeded 5 million views, attracting both curious onlookers and people interested in building similar shelters.
Even with partnerships and monetization on TikTok, Maria estimates that the couple has already spent about R$ 50,000 on the project.
The amount she mentioned refers to what has been invested so far, as the construction is not yet finished.
“There is still a lot missing. Since it’s just the two of us doing everything, the bulk of the bunker is ready, but we still need to finish the plastering, the finishing touches, and start stocking supplies. After that, we’ll move on to assembling the chalet,” she stated.
The buzz led to the couple being called the “apocalypse couple” on social media.
The expression is related to the content they publish and the type of preparation they report doing, although Maria states that the goal is not to scare the audience.
Survivalism and Crisis Preparation
Maria and André’s decision is part of behavior associated with survivalism.
The practice brings together people who seek to prepare for emergencies through stockpiling, food production autonomy, manual skills, and planning for potential disruptions in the normal functioning of society.
The original text indicates that the movement gained traction in the United States during the pandemic, amid fears of shortages.
In Brazil, according to the same report, the topic began to circulate more intensely in 2024, driven by discussions about economic crisis, international conflicts, and insecurity about the future.
Among the items typically associated with this preparation are food, medicine, hygiene products, tools, alternative energy sources, and means of transportation.
The intensity of this planning varies according to the profile of each person or family.
In the case of the couple from Joinville, the preparation is not limited to the bunker.
Maria stated that the two have firearm licenses and training, as well as knowledge related to hunting, animal preparation, and the cultivation of fruit plants.
She also mentioned that the couple keeps animals on the property as part of their self-sufficiency plan.
The horses, for example, are seen as a possible means of transportation in a crisis situation.
Christian Faith Also Appears in the Couple’s Motivation
Maria associates part of the preparation with Christian faith.
To UOL, she said she avoids discussing the topic frequently on social media to avoid alarming followers, but stated that she interprets current events based on biblical passages from the Apocalypse.
“We try to talk as little as possible about this on social media because we are influencers and we don’t want to scare anyone. But we are Christians, and all of this that is happening is written in the part of Revelation,” she declared.
The influencer also stated that the couple’s goal is not to isolate themselves from society, but to be prepared for emergency situations.
“Our goal is not to hide, but to be prepared. We believe that the Bible guides us to be provident,” she said.
At first, Maria reports that she found André’s idea strange.
Later, she began to see the project as a form of precaution in the face of economic crises, the pandemic, and ongoing wars on the international scene, as she stated in the interview.
“At first, I found it strange, I won’t lie. But seeing the economic crises, the pandemic, and the current global scenario of wars, I thought it was better to take this precaution,” Maria stated.
The bunker in Joinville is still under construction, with no completion date provided in the original text.
As the work progresses, Maria and André continue to publish videos about the project and report on the preparations they are making at the farm.
“We prepare for the worst, but we hope it will never be necessary to use it,” Maria said.
