ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - January 12, 2025

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - January 12, 2025

ZeroFox physical security experts collect, curate, and analyze information derived from open and proprietary sources for comprehensive context of the circumstances surrounding global events. Here is today’s daily roundup of major developments.

Brief Highlights

• Rescue Efforts Continue as Six Wind-Driven Fires Cause Widespread Destruction in LA
• Indonesia Joins BRICS
• Major Earthquakes Hit Kathmandu and Tibet, Triggering Panic and Casualties

Rescue Efforts Continue as Six Wind-Driven Fires Cause Widespread Destruction in LA

Rescue efforts are ongoing for six wind-driven fires that are currently burning in Los Angeles County, with over 150,000 people under evacuation orders. A new brush fire, called the Sunset Fire, broke out in the Hollywood hills near Runyon Canyon. A mandatory evacuation order has been issued for the area bounded by Laurel Canyon Boulevard (west), Mulholland Drive (north), the 101 Freeway (east), and Hollywood Boulevard (south). The largest of these fires has scorched over 15,800 acres in the Pacific Palisades area, destroying at least 1,000 structures. The Eaton Fire, which has burned approximately 10,600 acres (0 percent containment), has resulted in at least five fatalities and damaged or destroyed 200 to 500 structures. Other fires include the Woodley Fire (30 acres, 0 percent containment), the Hurst Fire (855 acres, 10 percent containment), and the Lidia Fire (348 acres, 40 percent containment) is burning near Acton, which is about 50 miles from Pacific Palisades. Winds have weakened since Tuesday night, allowing aircraft to resume water drops. Firefighting crews are working to establish containment lines behind the areas where water was dropped.

Indonesia Joins BRICS

Brazil announced on January 7, 2025, that Indonesia had joined the BRICS group of countries as a full member. Brazil is the current chair of the BRICS group, which welcomed Indonesia to join in 2023 and now sees the country formally adopted into the bloc. For Indonesia, joining BRICS is keeping with a longstanding policy of creating and endorsing alternate power structures. Indonesia, a fast-growing economy and one of the world’s most populous countries, will likely be an essential participant to strengthen multilateral relations.

Major Earthquakes Hit Kathmandu and Tibet, Triggering Panic and Casualties

A powerful earthquake struck Kathmandu early on Tuesday morning (local time), registering a magnitude of 7.1 on the Richter scale, according to the National Earthquake Measurement Centre. The tremors were also felt in the Madhubani region of Bihar, India. The epicenter of the earthquake was located in Dinggye, China, near the converging boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. The earthquake also affected nearby districts, including Kavrepalanchwok and Dhading in Nepal, prompting many residents in Kathmandu to rush outdoors in panic. At the same time, another strong earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.9, occurred near Shigatse in Tibet, damaging buildings and causing widespread fear. This led to casualties in western China, where at least 126 people were reported dead and at least 185 injured—at the time of writing.