Global Event Observer

The Observer informs you about current international events that might affect your international letter or packet shipments.

Coming Weeks

Taiwan	20-Jun-2018- 20-Jun-2019	Taipei Airport to close at night for a year: The Taipei Songshan Airport will close at night from 20 June for one year due to repairs and an expansion of the runway, according to media sources. The closure is expected to affect international flights, which will be diverted to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. The Taipei Songshan Airport is the second largest airport in Taipei.
Indonesia	8-14-Oct	Summits may cause disruptions: Media sources are reporting on October 8 that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) Annual Meetings will take place in Bali from October 8 to October 14. Due to a large number of visitors and increased security measures, disruptions to road traffic are likely to occur.
India	11-Oct	Cyclone Titli continues to impact Odisha: On October 18, media sources are reporting that landslides and flooding continue in Odisha state, India, as a result of the passage of Cyclone Titli on October 11. Widespread disruption to road traffic should be expected as clean-up actions are underway.
India	11-Oct	Cyclone Titli causes flooding: Updated media sources are reporting on October 15 that Cyclone Title has caused flooding and landslides in multiple locations of Odisha State. Ground transportation has been severely disrupted. The districts most affected have been Ganjam, Gajapati, and Rayagada.
India	11-Oct	Cyclone Titli hits eastern coasts: Media sources are reporting on October 11 that Cyclone Titli made landfall in Odisha state in eastern India. Several flights to and from Biju Patnaik International Airport (BBI) in Bhubaneswar, India, have been cancelled. Floods and traffic disruptions are expected for coastal areas of Odisha and Andra Pradesh state coasts over the next days.
Great Britain	12-Oct	Flooding causes road closures and restrictions: Updated media sources are reporting on October 16 that flooding and strong winds in many areas of the United Kingdom, particularly in Wales and South England, have caused road closures and traffic restrictions. Road disruptions have been reported in Carmarthen, Crickhowell, Brecon and Plymouth.
Great Britain	12-Oct	Storm Callum disrupts road transportation: Local media sources are indicating on October 15 that road traffic continues to be disrupted in multiple parts of the UK due to the passage of Storm Callum last weekend. The storm has caused flooding and landslides, in particular in Wales.
Italy	12-Oct	Flooding disrupts postal services: Poste Italiane indicated on October 12 that flooding in Sardinia, Italy, has interrupted postal delivery services since October 10. The worst affected areas include Cagliari and the eastern part of the island.
Mexico	12-Oct	Tropical storm Sergio approaches coastline: Local media sources indicated on October 11 that Tropical Storm Sergio was about to make landfall in Sonora state on Mexico's Pacific coastline. The storm was expected to move southeast. Airports in the area were likely to be affected by strong winds.
Portugal	13-Oct	Storm causes disruption in several regions: Weather warnings have been lifted in Portugal after the passing of post-tropical cyclone Leslie. Leslie made landfall over central Portugal on October 13, causing disruptions across northern regions. Coimbra, Lisbon, and Leiria reportedly experienced the worst impacts. Thousands of trees were overturned and localized flooding was reported.
France	15-Okt	Flooding causes disruption in southern France: Media sources reported on October 18 that severe flooding has caused disruption in 126 municipalities in the area of Carcassonne in southern France since October 15. Further rainfall is expected on October 18, with road closures likely to occur.
Australia	18-Oct	Storm causes road and air transport disruption: Local media sources indicate on October 19 that a severe thunderstorm on October 18 has caused transport disruptions in Sydney, Australia. Operations at Sydney Airport and several roads were impacted by flash flooding and severe winds.
Spain	19-Oct	Flights disrupted due to storm: On October 19, media sources are reporting that thunderstorm activity has disrupted flight schedules at the Palma de Mallorca Airport, Spain, since October 18. It remains unclear when the storm will pass and the schedule will normalize. Delays to postal services may occur.
United Kingdom	19-Oct	Royal Mail workers' strike called off: Sources are reporting on October 9 that Royal Mail postal workers called off a planned a 48-hour long strike for October 19. The Communication Workers Union organized the strike over pensions, pay, and jobs.
Canada	22-Oct	Canada Post workers to start nationwide strike: Media sources are reporting on October 17 that the Canadian Union of Postal Workers will stage a nationwide strike beginning October 22. The strike action will be held over demands regarding job security and safety standards. Widespread disruption to mail logistics services are likely.
Spain	14-Nov	Correos Postal workers announce strike: Media sources reported on October 16 that postal workers with Correos in Spain announced a series of rallies and strike actions which will start on November 14. Three strikes have been scheduled for November 30, December 21 and 26. Workers are protesting against the reduction of personnel in Correos.
Spain	30-Nov	Postal workers plan series of strikes: On October 4, sources reported that Correos postal employees have announced a series of strikes. Three strikes are scheduled for November 30, December 21 and 26 and a wave of rallies are scheduled between November 5 and 16. Workers are protesting against the reduction of personnel in Correos.

Service Disruption is provided by DHL as a courtesy to its customers. DHL is not responsible and assumes no liability for any inaccuracies, which may be contained within.
This information and its composition is based on selected high quality sources. The professional research, analysis and consolidation process is carried out by DHL Control Tower / Qensio.

Past Events

India	21-Aug- 4-Oct	Postal services in India resume: On October 4, the Department of Posts informed that postal services in Kochi office in Kerala have returned to normal. Flooding had previously caused disruptions.
United States	9-10-Sep	Flights disrupted at Dallas Airport: Local media sources are reporting that at least 90 flights have been cancelled and more than 450 flights have been delayed at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) since September 9 due to unspecified reasons. Flight operations are expected to normalize on September 10.
India	10-Sep	Nationwide strike affects transport services: Media sources are reporting on September 10 that a nationwide strike against high fuel prices is currently affecting transport services across India. No specific information on when the strike could end has been reported. Further protests and disruptions are expected.
Costa Rica	10-Sep	Public sector strike to disrupt postal services: On September 6, Correos de Costa Rica informed that the public sector labor unions have called for an indefinite strike from September 10. The strike may result in collection, processing and delivery delays for both inbound and outbound mail (letters, parcels and EMS).
France	11-Sep	Postal disruptions reported: La Poste informed that it has been experiencing issues in the exchange of EDI messages since September 11. No specific information on when the situation will return to normalcy has been reported so far.
China	12-Sep	Typhoon Mangkhut makes landfall: Typhoon Mangkhut has reportedly made landfall in Guangdong Province at 12 pm local time on September 16. Hundreds of flights have been cancelled across airports in the area. Further adverse weather is anticipated in the following days, with a high potential for widespread flooding. Mangkhut is expected to weaken into a tropical depression by September 18.
United States	12-Sep	Storm downgraded to tropical depression: Weather sources indicated that Storm Florence has been downgraded to a tropical depression on September 16. The storm has produced severe flooding and hazardous conditions, resulting in a dozen of deaths and multiple injuries. Multiple airports have temporarily shut down operations. At least one million people are without power and there is no specific information on when the situation will return to normalcy.
Philippines	12-16-Sep	Flight cancellations reported due to typhoon: Local media sources are informing that around 50 domestic flights across Philippines have been cancelled for September 14 and 15 due to the impact of Typhoon Mangkhut. Flight operations are expected to return to normalcy on September 16.
United States	12-Sep	Storm Florence downgraded to Category One: Weather sources indicate on September 14 that Hurricane Florence has downgraded to a Category One storm. The hurricane is expected to make landfall on September 14 near the southern coast of North Carolina. Over 1,000 flights have been canceled along the East Coast until September 14. Flooding, significant rainfall and widespread power outages are anticipated throughout the impacted areas.
Philippines	12-Sep	Typhoon to make landfall on September 15: Typhoon Mangkhut is forecasted to become a category five typhoon prior to making landfall in Cagayan province, Luzon Island on September 15. The storm is expected to pass through the Luzon Strait between the northern Philippines and southern Taiwan over the next few days bringing heavy rainfall and severe winds to Luzon.
Philippines	12-Sep	Typhoon Mangkut intensifies on September 11: Media sources are reporting that Typhoon Mangkhut has intensified as a strong typhoon on September 11. The storm is forecasted to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on September 12 with speeds of up to 260 kilometers per hour and pass close to Cagayan and Batanes provinces on September 15.
China	13-Sep	Typhoon Barijat makes landfall in Zhanjiang: Media sources reported that Typhoon Barijat reportedly made landfall in Zhanjiang on September 13. Around 12,000 people have been evacuated. Scattered thunderstorms and heavy rainfall are forecast throughout southern Guangdong Province for the next 72 hours.
United States	13-Sep	Hurricane Florence downgrades to Category Three: Hurricane Florence has been downgraded to Category Three; however, the storm remains very strong with maximum sustained winds of 190 kilometers per hour. Hurricane Warning is effect for coastal areas from Charleston, South Carolina, to Knotts Island, North Carolina. Coastal areas of Georgia, including Savannah are likely to be impacted.
China	13-Sep	Tropical Storm Barijat approaches Guangdong: Local media sources informed that Tropical Storm Barijat is moving towards the Guangdong coast on September 11. The storm is expected to intensify into a typhoon and make landfall on September 13 between western Guangdong and eastern Hainan provinces. A weather alert has been issued for Guangdong Province.
United Kingdom	13-26-Sep	Strike actions planned at Liverpool Airport: On September 4, airport workers have announced plans for strike actions at Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) for September 13, 19, 24 and 26 from 7 to 19 local time over a pay dispute. Approximately 80 workers will participate in the strike. Airport operations are expected to be affected.
United States	14-Sep	Flooding continues after Hurricane Florence: On October 2, the United States Postal Service (USPS) reported that Hurricane Florence, which made landfall in North Carolina on September 14, has caused severe flooding across the region. In many post offices, operations are still suspended and deliveries and other services continue to be affected.
Italy	14-21-Sep	Postal services resume: On September 21, Poste Italiane informed that all postal services have resumed, following earlier disruptions in the collection and delivery of both letter-mail and parcel items since September 14.
Italy	14-15-Sep	Postal disruptions reported in Sicily: Poste Italiane (IT) reported that collection and delivery of both letter-mail and parcel items in Sicily, Italy, have been affected from September 14 to 15, due to a number of security blocks established during the Pope’s visit. Affected postcode areas included: 94015 – Piazza Armerina and 94010 – Aidone.
United States	17-Sep	Postal services disrupted due to hurricane: On September 18, the United States Postal Service (USPS) informed that some post offices across North Carolina, South Carolina and southwest Virginia have suspended operations since September 17 due to the impact of tropical depression Florence. Affected postcodes range from 27000 to 29999 and 23000 to 23999. Deliveries and services will be disrupted until further notice.
Spain	17-Sep	Flight disruptions reported at Barcelona Airport: Media sources are reporting that flight disruptions have been occurring at Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN) since September 17 due to thunderstorms impacting the area. Both arrivals and departures have been impacted. It remains unclear on when flight operations will return to normalcy.
China	17-18-Sep	Postal services disrupted in Macao: Macao Post informed that the Macao Special Administrative Region has been severely affected by Typhoon Mangkhut. As a result, Macao Post has suspended postal delivery services from September 17 to September 18.
Great Britain	17-18-Sep	Weather warning issued due to Storm Helene: A weather warning has been issued for several areas of the United Kingdom including Wales, Northern Ireland, South West England, North West England, North East England and southern Scotland from 6 pm local time on September 17 until 8 am local time on September 18. Storm Helene is forecast to produce wind gusts of up to 70 mph.
United States	18-Sep	Flights disrupted at northeastern airports: Media sources are reporting that over 430 flights have been cancelled and more than 2220 flights have been delayed since September 18 at northeastern airports due to adverse weather conditions. Affected airports include John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Philadelphia Airport (PHL), Boston Airport (BOS), among others. Flight operations are expected to fully normalize on September 19.
Great Britain	19-Sep	Storm Ali disrupts transportation network: Media sources are reporting on September 20 that Storm Ali has been disrupting the transportation network in the North East area of the United Kingdom since September 19. Several roads have been closed. Reports are unclear on when the situation will normalize.
Great Britain	19-Sep	Weather warning issued for northern areas: A weather warning for wind has been issued for western Scotland and north England from 6 am to 10 pm local time on September 19. Gusts of up to 80 mph are forecast with heavy squally showers. Road, rail, air and ferry services are likely to be affected.
Mexico	20-Sep	Tropical depression approaches Mexico: Media sources reported that Tropical Depression Nineteen-E is predicted to make landfall in Guaymas, Mexico, on September 20. Heavy rainfall, flooding and landslides are forecast for the coastal areas of Sonora and Sinaloa states.
Netherlands	20-Sep	Employees with PostNL may go on strike: Automation efforts at PostNL have prompted unions to call for a strike action on September 20 across the country. Negotiations are underway and there is a potential for last minute agreements.
Germany	23-Sep	Storm Fabienne causes transport disruption: German media sources have reported that Storm Fabienne has caused widespread travel disruption within the southern areas of Germany on September 23. Over 100 flights have been cancelled and 600 flights have been delayed at Frankfurt Airport (FRA), with many roads within the affected areas heavily disrupted. No specific information on when the situation will normalize has been disclosed.
Iceland	23-Sep	Volcano Katla may disrupt flight operations: Local media sources indicated on September 23 that volcano Katla may erupt soon, potentially causing severe disruption to flight operations throughout Europe. No further details on the date of the eruption have been disclosed yet.
United States	25-Sep	Heavy rain causes flooding in New York City: Reports indicate that heavy rains have caused flooding and road disruptions in the New York City metropolitan area since September 25. Slow driving and congestion on roadways have been reported. No specific information on when the situation will return to normalcy has been reported so far.
Spain	26-Sep	IT issues cause postal disruptions: On September 26, Correos y Telégrafos informed that it had had problems sending PREDES messages since September 26 due to IT communication problems. The situation has been resolved and messages were sent on September 28.
Malaysia	26-Sep	Heavy rainfall causes flooding in Kuala Lumpur: Local media sources indicate that heavy rainfall has been causing flooding in Kuala Lumpur since September 26. Disruption has been reported on several key roads around the city. Further heavy rainfall is anticipated until September 28.
United States	26-Sep	Flights disrupted at New York airports: Industry sources are reporting that over 120 flights have been cancelled and more than 700 flights have been delayed since September 26 at John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), and Newark Liberty Airport (EWR) due to adverse weather conditions. Operations are expected to normalize on September 27.
Canada	26-Sep	Canada Post workers threaten to strike: Media sources report that a large union representing 50,000 Canada Post workers has threatened to stage strike actions if negotiations about a collective agreement fail by September 26.
Nigeria	27-Sep	Strike causes postal disruptions: The Nigerian Postal Service indicated on October 1 that a strike by labour unions which started on September 27 has caused postal disruptions. The strike has reportedly affected inbound and outbound international mail and domestic delivery. Operators will be informed once the situation has returned to normal.
Nigeria	27-Sep-3-Oct	Postal services return to normal: The Nigerian Postal Service indicated on October 3 that the strike by labour unions has been called off. Postal operations have since returned to normal.
Belgium	28-Sep	Civil servants and postal workers to strike: On 28 September, civil servants from several trade unions have started a nationwide strike action in conjunction with a protest march in the centre of Brussels, Belgium, at 10:30 am local time. Workers from postal operator Bpost are also expected to participate in the strike against changes to the sick leave system.
Indonesia	28-Sep	Tsunami affects postal operations: Following damage from a tsunami, Pos Indonesia has temporarily suspended the processing and delivery of letters, parcels and EMS from September 29 until further notice.
Indonesia	28-Sep	Tsunami causes major damages: A tsunami hit the Palu City and Dongala, Indonesia, on September 28. The tsunami was caused by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake in Sulawesi province that disrupted energy and communications services in Palu and the Donggala Regency. Ongoing reports indicate that many buildings, roads and bridges have been destroyed and damaged.
Japan	28-Sep	Typhoon Trami causes flight cancellations: Local media report that Typhoon Trami will strengthen to a Category 3 hurricane by September 29. Typhoon Trami is expected to pass over the Miyako Islands and the southern Ryukyu Islands and then move north towards the Japanese mainland by September 30. All flights for September 28 with China Air Lines and EVA Airways to Okinawa have been cancelled.
Japan	28-Sep	Typhoon to make landfall on September 28: Updated reports indicate that Typhoon Trami is forecast to make landfall on the southern Ryukyu Islands on September 28, causing severe winds and heavy rain. Typhoon Trami is expected to hit the Japanese mainland from September 30 to October 1.
Japan	28-Sep	Typhoon Trami to affect Ryukyu Islands: Media sources are reporting that Typhoon Trami is forecast to affect the Ryukyu Islands between September 28 and 30. Typhoon Trami reached category 5 hurricane scale on September 23 and exhibits sustained wind speeds of 165 kph.
Japan	29-Sep	Typhoon Trami disrupts transportation: On October 1, a weather warning has been issued for northern Japan and the mainland due to the expected impact of Typhoon Trami. Hundreds of flights have been cancelled over airports in the region. Further adverse weather conditions are expected in the coming days, with a high risk of landslides expected until weather conditions improve.
USA, Germany etc.	2-Oct	Global strike to affect flight disruptions: Media sources indicate that airport workers across several countries plan to participate in a strike action on October 2, including in the United States, Germany, France, Australia and the Netherlands. They are calling for better working conditions. Flight disruptions and delays should be expected.
USA, Germany etc.	2-Oct	Flight disruptions expected due to strike: Several media report that workers at airports across several countries will be joining global strike action on October 2. Approximately 40 airports across 13 countries will be affected, including Germany, France and the Netherlands. The extent of the disruption caused by the strike action is, however, still unclear.
South Korea	4-Oct	Typhoon Kong-Rey causes disruption: Media sources are reporting flooding in multiple areas of South Korea following the passage of Tropical Storm Kong-Rey, which has also caused landslides. Structural damage has been reported in Busan and Yeongdeok. Flights have been disrupted at local airports, with roads likely closed along coastal areas.
Japan	4-6-Oct	Typhoon Kong-Rey causes disruptions: Media sources are reporting on October 4 that Typhoon Kong-Rey has caused flight cancellations and delays at various airports in Okinawa. The typhoon will reportedly impact the Japanese mainland on October 5 and October 6, with disruptions to air and ground transportation likely to occur.
Canada	8-Oct	Canada Post workers threaten to strike: Sources report that the union representing 50,000 employees at Canada Post has threatened to stage a strike action, if no further concessions over contract negotiations will be made by senior management. No strike date has been announced yet.
France	9-Oct	Strike action announced for October 9: On October 4, the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) and Workers Force (FO) unions have called for a strike on October 9 to protest against the government. The logistics and transportation sector is expected to be severely impacted by the strike; however, no information on the extent of the impact has been available so far.
United States	10-Oct	Hurricane Michael disrupts postal operations: The United States Postal Service reported on October 15 that Hurricane Michael has caused disruptions to postal operations. Flooding and destructive winds impacted operations in some areas of the country.
United States	10-Oct	Hurricane Michael disrupts road traffic: On October 12, updated media sources indicate that Hurricane Michael has caused flooding and power outages across Florida, North Carolina and Virginia. Significant road disruption has been reported on interstates, likely delaying delivery and pick-up services in the southeastern US.
United States	10-Oct	Hurricane Michael causes significant damage: Updated media sources indicate on October 11 that Hurricane Michael made landfall in Florida on October 10, causing floods, power outage and building damages in northwestern Florida, Alabama, and Georgia. Road closures have been reported throughout affected areas due to flooding and debris. The hurricane has slightly decreased in intensity and is expected to move towards South Carolina today.
Spain	10-Oct	Flooding may cause transport disruption: Media sources report on October 10 that several roads throughout Spain are flooded due to heavy rainfall. Flooding has been reported in the cities of Málaga, Tarragona and on the Spanish island of Mallorca. Disruptions to pick-up and delivery services are likely to occur. No information has been reported as to when the situation will return to normal.
United States	10-Oct	Hurricane Michael strengthens further: Updated media sources indicate on October 10 that Hurricane Michael has intensified into a Category 4 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 130 miles per hour. The hurricane is expected to make landfall on the Florida panhandle after midday on October 10, likely causing flooding, road closures and flight disruptions.
United States	10-Oct	Airports to close due to Hurricane Michael: Media sources are reporting on October 9 that Hurricane Michael is predicted to make landfall on October 10 near the Florida panhandle, USA. Airports in the area will be closed on October 10. There is no initial information on when the airports will be reopened.
Mexico	10-Oct	Tropical Storm Michael moves towards Florida: Media sources report that Tropical Storm Michael is currently moving towards the areas of Cozumel and Cancun in Mexico. The storm is expected to intensify into a Category 1 hurricane by October 9 and may move further on to Cuba and the Florida peninsula, where it is expected to make landfall by October 10.

Exempted countries

Country or region

Crimea (region)

Cuba

Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Iran

Sudan

Syria

Countries with service disruption

Due to local circumstances, we currently cannot provide delivery services of mail and packets to the following countries or regions

Country	Region or city
Bougainville Island (Papua New Guinea)	Arawa Buin Kieta Panguna
Georgia	Abkhazia
South Sudan	Jonglei Unity Equatoria
Chad	Tibesti
Ukraine	Region Donetsk, Luhansk Oblasts and Crimea Zip Code 83000-87000 & 91000-99000
Yemen