A 45-year-old British woman dies after being caught in an avalanche on Mont Blanc

A Briton has died after being caught in an avalanche while hiking with two others on Mont Blanc, rescue services said on Sunday.

The accident happened on Saturday on the Argentière glacier, one of the largest glaciers in the Mont Blanc mountains.

The 45-year-old was found buried under the snow and emergency services were too late to rescue her.

A Briton has died after being caught in an avalanche while hiking with two other people on Mont Blanc, rescue services said on Sunday (Argentiere Glacier file photo)

The police have ordered an investigation into the accident and an autopsy.

The other two hikers were unharmed, authorities said.

Mont Blanc, at 4,800 meters the highest mountain in Western Europe, attracts 20,000 hikers and skiers every year.

Mont Blanc’s popularity poses a growing safety and environmental challenge, local officials have warned.

The 45-year-old was found buried under the snow and rescue services arrived too late to rescue her (Argentiere Glacier file photo)

Warmer temperatures in recent years have melted the permafrost and increased the risk of rockfalls on the most popular routes.

In August, authorities closed two popular mountain huts used by Mont Blanc climbers because of potentially deadly drought-related rockfalls.

It is also believed that melting snow triggers avalanches.