Hotmail bug affected 17000

For the past few days, Hotmail users has been complaining saying that they've lost a few emails in their inbox. Some even have their inbox emptied. Taken from google news..

Microsoft 'sorry' as Hotmail bug hits 17,000

Microsoft has apologized, but not explained why nearly 20,000 Hotmail accounts were mysteriously emptied of their contents during the Christmas holiday.

Corporate vice president for Windows Live Chris Jones blogged on Monday that 17,355 Windows Live Hotmail accounts had lost all their email messages during the course of what he called "mailbox load balancing between servers."

read more at http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/01/04/microsoft_apologizes_empty_hotmail/ 

Anyway, for now there is no explanation from Microsoft regarding this matter. The big question is, can hotmail users retrieve  their emails back?