Businesses planning to send parcels to Europe are being warned of significant delivery disruptions due to ongoing wildfires ravaging parts of France and Spain.
Royal Mail said it had been informed of sorting centers and post offices being engulfed in flames since 22 July in the Gironde and Landes departments, resulting in the closure of some postal facilities.
It added that the fire was continuing to spread toward the Bordeaux metropolitan area, forcing postal workers to be evacuated and some regions currently remained inaccessible.
A similar picture emerged in Spain, with the Spanish Post Correos telling Royal Mail that several forest fires were affecting various regions with authorities ordering road closures and residents evacuated in several towns.
ParcelHero said economy and postal services were expected to be hit hardest as they relied most heavily on local last-mile providers.
David Jinks, head of consumer research at Parcelhero, said: “These wildfires are causing real disruption on the ground in both France and Spain, and unfortunately parcel deliveries are caught up in that.
“Whole postcodes around Bordeaux and Arcachon Bay have been evacuated, and understandably, nothing can move safely through those areas until the fires are under control.
“It’s a similar picture in parts of Spain, where road closures and restricted access are holding up local carriers.
“International carriers and local courier networks are keeping all affected parcels secure and will get them moving the moment it’s safe to do so.
“Right now, the priority has to be the safety of residents, drivers and delivery teams on the ground, not speed of delivery.”
