Persistent hum near Vienna’s Russian embassy falls silent after weeks of complaints

A constant hum that had plagued the area around the Russian embassy in Vienna for months fell silent on Friday. Measurements indicated the sound, around 790 hertz, came from two roof-mounted ventilators on the embassy’s building at Reisnerstraße 45, and municipal building police classified it as a health hazard after numerous resident complaints. Apartment owners reported the noise both day and night, even affecting the neighboring German embassy.

Following an Austrian Press Agency report, city departments conducted intensive checks, including a measurement on Tuesday and a health-risk assessment on Thursday. By the second half of Friday the tone disappeared, and on Saturday only police vehicle engines were audible. The embassy denied hearing any complaints, and the precise reason the noise stopped remains unknown.