China "Buckles" Under Strain Of Winter Storm - AFP

Premier Wen Jiabao rushed Tuesday to oversee disaster relief as China buckled under its harshest winter for half a century, which has affected tens of millions of people and paralysed many areas.

The heavy snowfalls and freezing temperatures across China have left more than 50 dead, ravaged power supplies and hit millions of people trying to go home for the main holiday of the year. A total of 77.9 million people have been affected by the weather which has covered a swathe of China stretching from Xinjiang in the northwest to Fujian in the southeast, various state newspapers reported.

Wen travelled to Changsha, capital of central Hunan province which has been particularly badly hit, where he met senior officials, chatted with travellers at the train station and inspected repair work on power lines downed by the weight of ice. "I am deeply apologetic that you are stranded in the railway station and not able to go home earlier," Wen told passengers over a loudspeaker, the official Xinhua news agency said.

"We are now doing our best to fix things up and you will all be home for the Spring Festival," in early February, he added to applause.

EDIT

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Strain_shows_as_China_buckles_under_harsh_winter_999.html

But I can't help but wonder if the Chinese government has reneged on its 1-child policy with a wink & nod to the populace? It's late so I haven't yet googled the question...