Debrecen4U May 28, 2026

Press Release

The Municipality of Debrecen supports all official investigations aimed at fully clarifying the circumstances surrounding the CATL incident of 5 May 2026. The municipality is cooperating fully with the competent authorities in the conduct of these investigations.

Today, the Mikepércs Mothers for the Environment Association (MIAKÖ) published a social media post on the laboratory results of a sample taken from water coloured green, originating from the pressure test carried out at the CATL plant on 5 May 2026. The examination commissioned by the association detected the presence of several pollutants.

Previously, the management of CATL, the company carrying out the pressure test, and Debreceni Vízmű Zrt. had informed the municipality that the water contained no pollutants. On-site measurements carried out by the disaster management authority also supported this conclusion.

The contradiction between the earlier findings and the results published today by MIAKÖ must be resolved. At the General Assembly, Mayor László Papp stated that the municipality supports MIAKÖ’s investigative initiative and urges the environmental authority to clarify the discrepancies between the laboratory examinations. To assist this process, the city will also make available to MIAKÖ the results of the laboratory analysis conducted by Debreceni Vízmű Zrt.

The competent authorities are carrying out their work within their respective powers and responsibilities, while the city is assisting these activities with all information and test results at its disposal in order to ensure that every aspect of the matter is clarified satisfactorily.

The city has a vested interest in, and remains committed to, ensuring that the industrial plants operating here comply with the regulations and operate accordingly. Should they fail to do so, the authorities must take the strictest possible sanctions against them.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu