Mayor Adrian M. Fenty: Reports scene as being “as horrific as you can imagine.” Describes one train as being “almost squeezed completely together.”

Confirms the figure of six fatalities, as previously reported by WJLA-TV. Calls that a “working number,” meaning that the hospitals haven’t been cleared and the scene hasn’t been cleared. Fire officials continue searching the scene.

Fire Chief Dennis Rubin says that there’s a total of 76 people transported.

Also: Responder injuries: two, minor.

Rubin: One of trains is compressed 85 percent. Will make certain train is clear of living and dead before turning over the train to investigators. They’re doing a “primary search.”

Police Chief Cathy Lanier: There’s a reunification center set up for families. Please call 3-1-1.

Nine NTSB investigators are on the case. FBI evidence response team is on the case as well.

Fenty: Largest fatality count in four-decade history of Metro.

FBI guy: Team will be assisting NTSB. Evidence-response people are completely on top of this. Cautions against jumping to any conclusions about what happened.

NTSB promises to gather “factual information” about the accident.

Jim Graham: Metro board will meet tomorrow at 2 p.m.