The fire, which affected the whole building, began at 3.16am and was reported fully extinguished at 4.56am.

On the spot were 52 fire fighters, backed up by 14 vehicles. At 6.30am there were still 50 fire fighters working to damp down the ashes.

The flames forced the evacuation of the building itself and another neighbouring one.

The building's inhabitants were being looked after by Lisbon's municipal civil defence services, according to an official who said that no one was known to have been injured.