Dozens of people turned for medical aid and another twenty-seven were hospitalized after receiving a thermal shock in the Bulgarian capital Sofia Saturday, as temperatures in many places in this country struck record highs.

Saturday became the hottest day over the past 100 years here, with temperatures climbing to over 40 degrees Celsius in Sofia, Blagoevgrad, Plovdiv, Veliko Tyrnovo, Varna and Vidin.

The heat wave has compelled the authorities to impose some restrictions on transport. Heavy-duty trucks have been prohibited from driving during the daytime and railway trains have been slowed down.