The announcement was made by the Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI), which, in a statement, specifies that the team is composed of Civil Protection, GNR, INEM and the Lisbon Firefighters Regiment.

According to the MAI, the operational personnel have expertise in the areas of search and rescue in an urban environment, pre-hospital emergency and response to nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical events.

The willingness to send these operatives comes in response to a request for international assistance from the Lebanese authorities to the European Civil Protection Mechanism.

The mobilisation of the Joint National Operational Force still depends, however, on the formal acceptance of the Lebanese authorities, adds the MAI.

Two successive strong explosions rocked Beirut on 4 August, causing more than a hundred deaths and more than 4,000 injuries, according to the latest assessment by the Red Cross.

Up to 300,000 people are said to have been homeless due to the explosions, according to Lebanese capital governor Marwan Abboud.

The Portuguese government indicated on 4 August that it had no indication that there were national citizens among the victims.

The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, on 5 August sent a message to his Lebanese counterpart, Michel Aoun, expressing “condolences to the families of the mortal victims and wishes for a speedy recovery for all the wounded, as well as his solidarity with all the Lebanese people.”

The Portuguese Government also expressed solidarity with Lebanon and its people, adding that it will participate in the European Union's support plan.

The violent explosions must have originated from explosive materials confiscated and stored for several years in the port of the Lebanese capital.

Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab revealed that about 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate was stored in the exploding Beirut port depot.