[3] The earthquake triggered a tsunami with a maximum height of 0.3 m (1 ft 0 in).

The tsunami sank 10 fishing boats in Hualien and Yilan and was attributed to six injuries.

[4] The earthquake was preceded by a ML  6.5 foreshock on May 20, 1986 which struck north of Hualien at 15.8 km (9.8 mi) depth.

The foreshock produced aftershocks located on two parallel, steep, east-dipping thrust faults.

The November 15, 1986 earthquake produced aftershocks largely concentrated at depths 15 km (9.3 mi) or shallower in the upper crust.