LEE COUNTY, AL — Family members have identified a 6-year-old boy who died when a powerful EF-4 tornado swept through Lee County, Alabama. The massive tornado, which stretched nearly a mile wide Sunday afternoon, packed winds of about 170 mph, uprooting trees, downing power lines, and ripping roofs from mobile homes.

Click Here: Rugby league Jerseys

When it was all over, nearly two dozen people died and dozens more were hurt or left homeless.

Three children, ages 6, 9 and 10, were among the dead, Lee County Coroner Bill Harris announced at a press conference Sunday. Family members identified the youngest as Armando Hernandez, CNN reported.

To his family, he was known as A.J.

Tina Melton expressed her grief in an emotional Facebook post that she said was the most difficult she’d ever typed.

“We love you AJ. This is a hardest thing I have ever had to post…….. little AJ didn’t make it,” a heartbroken Melton wrote.

The boy was found alive but did not survive, she said. She described the boy as “a little Angel from God.”

“He was a precious little man that was loved by everyone,” wrote Melton. “I will miss your little smile and your sweet voice and face. He was always eager to give hugs and loved his family.”

She asked her Facebook friends to pray for the A.J.’s loved ones. She said his mother, father, brother and grandmother were heading to a children’s hospital. The family lost everything in the storm

“They also lost their home in the tornado with all belongings. It will be a ruff (sic) road but we will still keep our faith and trust in God. God please keep little AJ till we can see him again. Fly high AJ. You have your wings,” she wrote.

Officials said the county was hit by two tornadoes within an hour of each other. Chris Darden, of the National Weather Service in Birmingham called the Ef-4 a “monster tornado” on Monday.

“This was the deadliest tornado in the United States since Moore, Oklahoma,” he said.

Search teams continued sifting through a massive debris field Monday. They’ve focused on areas that were hit hardest and will soon refocus on other areas. More victims could be found beneath the rubble when it’s all said and done, officials said.

“I’m not going to be surprised if we don’t come up with some more deceased. Hopefully we won’t,” Harris, the coroner, said. Many of the dead included almost entire families.

The powerful winds ripped apart dozens of buildings, many of them manufactured homes. Trees were toppled. A mangled cell tower was blown over, and giant pieces of metal were torn from buildings and hurled 20 feet or more away.

The coroner told reporters that they’ve identified all but six of the victims. Most of the families have been notified. The six unknown victims will have to be identified via fingerprints or DNA testing.