Spain govt defends flood action as it offers new aid

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday announced almost 2.3 billion euros in new aid for the country's flood hit region as he defended his government's handling of the deadly disaster last month.

The European country is still reeling from the October 29 floods, which killed at least 229 people, washed away roads and rail lines, submerged fields, and gutted homes and businesses, mainly in the eastern region of Valencia. Sanchez added he was absolutely open to the creation of a parliamentary commission of enquiry to look into the state's response to the floods.