INCIDENT BULLETIN

Incident Bulletin 24th March, 2025

This week's bulletin contains information about USA, Australia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Italy and Great Britain

USA

Report date: 17 March
Incident: Compromised accounting e-mail addresses

The designated operator of the United States of America, the United States Postal Service (USPS), would like to inform that certain of its e-mail addresses associated with the exchange of international accounting information have been compromised and used to disseminate false banking information. 

USPS is reviewing the incident and will take the necessary action to mitigate any compromised information.

USPS would like to remind designated operators that they should continue to be guided by the relevant USPS settlement information – especially the payee account number information – available on the UPU website at International Bureau circulars with bank details - Home. It wishes to reiterate that the valid information to be used for payments by transfer remains that provided on the above-listed website, as per International Bureau circular No. 89 of 3 June 2024.

USPS will ensure that any necessary updates to its accounting information – including the correct USPS settlement e-mail addresses to be used by designated operators to avoid receiving any incorrect banking information or other types of information needed for settlement purposes – will be communicated via IB circular and published on the UPU website at the link provided above.

Australia

Report date: 17 March
Incident: Back to normal

The designated operator of Australia, Australia Post, wishes to inform that it has regained access to the areas affected by tropical cyclone Alfred and that the collection and delivery of mail will resume as usual with effect from 17 March 2025. 

Accordingly, the case of force majeure can be closed.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Report date: 18 March
Incident: Major disruption to postal operationsl

The designated operator of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Société Congolaise des Postes et Télécommunications (SCPT), wishes to inform that owing to the ongoing armed conflict in the east of the country, postal operations are severely disrupted in the eastern provinces, in particular North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri. 

The logistics chain has been severely impacted by the conflict, leading to considerable delays and temporary suspensions in the processing of domestic and international postal items. 

For the SCPT, ensuring the safety of its staff, the protection of postal items and the security of its facilities remains the top priority. Faced with these challenges, it is actively exploring alternative solutions, in close collaboration with the United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations in the region, to facilitate the secure transport of urgent or humanitarian postal items to the affected populations, in accordance with international postal agreements and humanitarian principles.

Italy

Report date: 19 March
Incident: Flood in Tuscany

The designated operator of Italy, Poste Italiane, wishes to inform that adverse weather conditions in the Tuscany region from 14 to 16 March 2025 have caused flooding, resulting in disruption to normal road systems, difficulty in maintaining connections and the need to evacuate certain municipalities.

As a result, the collection and delivery of domestic and international letter post and parcels is subject to delays in the provinces of Florence, Lucca, Grosseto, Livorno, Pistoia and Prato. 

The affected localities and postcode areas are as follows:

Abetone/Cutigliano	51024
San Marcello/Piteglio	51028
Marradi	50034
Pontassieve/Via di Valle	50065
Pontassieve/Via del Sasso	50065
Casalguidi	51034
Pistoia	51100
Quarrata	51039
Borgo San Lorenzo	50032
Vicchio	50039
Scarperia San Piero a Sieve	50038
Vaglia	50036
Carmignano	59015
Sillano Giuncugnano	55039
Dicomano	50062
Isola del Giglio (Grosseto)	57030-1-3-4-6-7-8
Isola d’Elba (Livorno)
Rufina	50068
Fiesole	50014

Poste Italiane is taking all necessary measures to minimize inconvenience for customers and restore normal operations in the affected areas as soon as possible.

Italy

Report date: 20 March
Incident: Back to normal

The designated operator of Italy, Poste Italiane, wishes to inform that normal postal operations have been re-established.

Great Britain

Report date: 20 March
Incident: Disruption to postal services as Heathrow closed

Royal Mail International have been informed that Heathrow airport is closed until 23:59 on 21st March.  

A fire has broken out at a west London substation, leading to a power outage that has left Heathrow airport without electricity.  

Royal Mail International are already following up with carriers and airline sheds.

This event will affect all import and export mail movements through Heathrow today and over the coming days.

Royal Mail London Air Mail Unit LAMU, ILC, HWDC and Coventry remain fully operational.

There will be impact on Export mail for the next 24 to 48 hours subject to a resumption of operation at Heathrow. 

We will provide another update via Exceptional Event when more information becomes available.