Panic spread in Goma on Thursday, with M23 rebels steadily closing in on the eastern Congolese city as they battled the Congolese army.Bombs were heard going off on the outskirts and hundreds of wounded civilians were brought to the main hospital in neighboring towns and villages.

In recent weeks, the rebel group has made significant progress, closing in on Goma, home to nearly two million people and a regional hub for security and humanitarian efforts.

M23 is one of about 100 armed groups that have been based in the mineral-rich eastern Congo stronghold along the border with Rwanda for decades, creating the world's biggest humanitarian crises.

More than seven million people have been displaced by the fighting.Earlier this month, M23 captured the towns of Minova, Katale and Masisi, west of Goma.

“The people of Goma have suffered greatly, like other Congolese,” M23 spokesman Lawrence Kanyuuka told X. “M23 is on the way to liberating them.”

M23 captured Goma in 2012 and controlled it for more than a week.

On news of the fight, schools in Goma sent students home on Thursday morning.

“They tell us the enemy wants to enter the city. That's why they tell us to go home,” said Hassan Kambon, a 19-year-old high school student.

Rwanda is accused of supporting the rebels

Congo, USA and UN experts accuse Rwanda of BC. In supporting the M23, which consists mainly of ethnic Turks who broke away from the Congolese army more than a decade ago.

The Rwandan government denies the claim, but last year acknowledged it has troops and missile systems in eastern Congo to protect its security, citing a Congolese force build-up near the border. UN experts estimate there are up to 4,000 Rwandan forces in Congo.

On Wednesday, Congolese Communications Minister Patrick Mouya told French broadcaster France that war with Rwanda was “an option to consider”.

On Thursday, Congolese authorities claimed that the armed forces had pushed back the Rwandan army, a town just 23 km from Goma. The Associated Press could not verify whether the Rwandan army took part in the offensive :

The situation remains uncertain, some residents claim that the rebels entered and seized the city.

“The population is in panic. M23 now controls large parts of the city,” said Leopold Mwisha, president of the city's civil society.

On Thursday, the US Embassy in the Congolese capital of Kinshasa warned of an “increasing severity of armed conflict” and advised North Kivu province, which includes Goma, to evacuate their homes on short notice.

The UK has also issued a travel advice saying the M23 is now under control and urged British citizens to leave Goma while roads remain open.

The hospital was stretching to limit

More than 178,000 people who fled the advance of the M23 in the last two weeks have been joined by many things for residents.

CBCA Ndosho Hospital in Goma was stretched to the limit with hundreds of new wounded on Thursday.

On Wednesday, thousands of people were fleeing the fighting by boat to the north, ditching packed wooden boats in Lake Kivu and Goma, some with their foreheads wrapped around their heads.

Neema Matondo said she fled at night when the first explosions started, she said she saw people torn to pieces and killed.

“We escaped, but unfortunately” the others did not, Matondo said.

Mariam Nasibu, who ran away with her three children, was in tears. One of his children lost a leg, blown up in the merciless shelling.

“As I continued to run, another bomb fell in front of me, hitting my child,” she said, crying.