Weekly wrap-up: Alabama pipeline explosion spawns fires amid drought; Italy reels from strongest earthquake in over 30 years

By Amanda Schmidt, AccuWeather Staff Writer

November 6,2016; 12:46PM,EDT

 

The southeastern United States experienced tragedy at the start of the week as a result of pipeline explosion in Helena, Alabama, that killed one person and left five injured.
The hot, dry weather contributed to the explosion and fire. A large plume of flame and smoke arose from the area of the explosion. The Alabama Emergency Management Agency said a temporary flight restriction is in effect for the area around the explosion.
The pipeline explosion occurred at a time when much of the Southeast continued to face stifling heat and dry weather. Birmingham, located 20 miles from Helena, tied or broke a record high six times during October and is likely to end up with no measurable precipitation for the month.
Firefighters work to put out a fire after part of the Colonial Pipeline exploded in Helena, Alabama. (Photo/Alabama Emergency Management Agency)
There have been more 1,000 wildfires in the state since Oct. 1, according to the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC). Two of which ignited as a result of the pipeline explosion and burned 31 acres of land according to the AFC.
This week, the Chicago Cubs took home the 2016 World Series after a timely 17-minute rain delay.
The seventh and final game was played in Cleveland, Ohio, on Wednesday night. The final game was marked by a rain delay and unusually warm weather.
The temperatures remained in the upper 60s F for much of Game 7, which is about 20 degrees above average in northern Ohio for early November.
A Chicago Cubs fan catches raindrops in his mouth after Game 7 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Cleveland Indians Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016, in Cleveland. The Cubs won 8-7 in 10 innings to win the series 4-3. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Other parts of the United States also experienced record-breaking high temperatures on Wednesday.
McCallen, Texas, set a record of 98, smashing a previous record of 93. This also tied the all-time record for November, just the previous day.
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New Orleans set a record of 88 on Wednesday, breaking the previous record of 85. This also set the all-time record for November, breaking the record of 87 set on Nov. 1, 1997, and tied on Nov. 1, 2016.
Meanwhile, Italy was reeling from the aftermath of the 6.6-magnitude earthquake, which struck on Sunday, Oct. 30.
A view of the hilltop town of Amatrice after an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.6 struck central Italy, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016. (Massimo Percossi/ANSA via AP)
The earthquake was the strongest to hit Italy since 1980, it damaged numerous buildings and injured dozens of people. The quake displaced approximately 15,000 residents across Italy.
"Everything has been destroyed. The towns no longer exist," Aleandro Petrucci, the mayor of Arquata del Tronto, said.