In retrospect it was a global-tailored package: disaster film, which traditionally played well OS? Check. The “it” tiger beat matinee idol of that moment? Check. A rare blockbuster of that era oriented around social-economical class division? Check. The best non-Spielberg blockbuster director of that era (arguably all time) doing his thing with storytelling and FX? Check. Boobs? Check. And so forth.
the teen girls played their part, but yes it wasn’t just them to say the least.