In northern Turkey, at least 70 people are dead after torrential rains set off massive floods in the Black Sea region. Nearly four dozen others are still missing. Survivors described a wall of water tossing cars down streets, washing away bridges, buildings and roads.

Elif: “Several dead bodies were washed away in front of my eyes. There was a dog there with her puppies. I cannot get the screams of her out of my head. I really cannot. It was awful. It was really awful. Right now I cannot be grateful that I am alive.”

July was the hottest month ever recorded in nearly a century and a half of recordkeeping. Land surface temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere last month averaged nearly 2.8 degrees Fahrenheit above historical averages.