GEORGE TOWN, Jan. 26 -- Penang's northern coastline is facing fresh challenges as spring tides continue to batter beaches, uprooting trees and worsening erosion between Batu Ferringhi and Tanjung Bungah.

Spring tides, which occur when the sun, moon, and Earth align to produce higher-than-usual high tides, have allowed waves to reach further inland, accelerating damage to the shore.

At least five seaside trees have been reported downed this week, adding to the Casuarina trees lost since last Friday that had stood since the 1950s, The Star reported today.

"If no action is taken now, the problem will only worsen in the coming months," a local beach resort's communication director, Datuk Suleiman Tunku Abdul Rahman, was quoted as saying. ...