I explain it as a rather glaring mistake. Unless either Panama City did indeed move or there's a second one in the state... which I don't buy. It's not unheard of to have cities with the same name in different parts of a country but not in the same region.
I also liked how they said the beam traveled from Florida to Venezuela, and yet the damage is nowhere near Venezuela.
Either Berman and Braga (who wrote the episode) made a goof, or the effects people don't know their geography.
We use essential cookies to make this site work, and optional cookies to enhance your experience.