A downpour in the early hours of Tuesday has rendered over 200 Sapele residents homeless as a result of over-flooding occasioned by the lack of a good drainage system to channel the water out of the affected areas.

The affected areas include Cemetery Road behind former NEPA, Adeola Road by Sapele Clinic, Gana, Amukpe, Okirighwre and Okpe Road by Omare Primary School.

The victims lost property worth over N50 million to the downpour and are trying to relocate to other places where they could get shelter.

Three of the affected persons, Mr. Sunday Efetobre, Mrs. Grace Okpako and Elder James Ejirooghene, called on the local, state and federal governments to come to their aid. They lamented that all they had laboured for over the years have been destroyed by the heavy rain due to poor drainage system in the affected areas.

News Express observed that some of the drainage systems have been blocked due to illegal approval of buildings erected on top of the waterways, thus preventing the free-flow of water through the commercial city.

Those who spoke to journalists accused the town planning authorities of causing the disaster and called for their probe alongside those who erected buildings on waterways.

•Photo shows Delta Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa.