LISBON, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Portugal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday that at least nine Portuguese nationals and people of Portuguese descent were killed in the powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday.

According to earlier reports by the official Lusa News Agency, the Portuguese government had confirmed that at least 56 Portuguese nationals and people of Portuguese descent were missing following the earthquakes.

Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro announced on Thursday that Portugal had deployed a 50-member emergency civil protection team to assist Venezuela. He added that Portugal would also take part in the European Union's coordinated response in the wake of the quakes. ■