Ongoing wildfires in the Bordeaux and Arcachon Bay areas of France, and across several regions of Spain, are disrupting parcel networks on the ground – with some economy and postal services expected to be hit hardest as they rely most heavily on local last-mile providers.
Parcelhero is advising individuals and businesses planning to send parcels to Europe of significant delivery disruption to affected regions of France and Spain, as wildfires continue to impact large areas of both countries.
France
Major wildfires have been raging across the Bordeaux region and the Arcachon Bay area since the end of last week, prompting the evacuation of thousands of residents. Operations in the affected area are severely disrupted, and deliveries cannot be carried out until the situation returns to normal.
The postal codes currently affected include:
33700, 33520, 33160, 33127, 33185, 33320, 33510, 33740, 33950, 33138, 33125, 33770, 33980, 33114, 33830, 33680, 33480, 40200, 40600, 40210, 40410, 40460, 40160
As some Bordeaux distribution networks cover wide areas, knock-on delays may also affect neighbouring postcodes currently not directly impacted by the fires.
Spain
Parcelhero has also been notified of delays affecting a number of areas served by carriers in Spain, where road closures and restricted access to affected populations are disrupting deliveries.
Postcodes with limited or cancelled delivery include:
00400 – Ávila
01104 – Onda (Castellón)
01105 – Vila-real (Castellón)
02634 – Collado Villalba
02665 – Navalcarnero
04204 – Illescas
04209 – Talavera de la Reina
Impact on service levels
Parcelhero expects that economy and postal delivery services in particular may be hit hardest by these disruptions, as they rely most heavily on local last-mile delivery providers in the affected regions; the very networks currently constrained by evacuations, road closures and restricted access.
Parcelhero’s Head of Consumer Research, David Jinks M.I.L.T. says: ‘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.